XO-2 vs. Red RockHopper

I built up a 1992 Bridgestone XO-2, yesterday, and now I have two bikes built for essentially the same use. That redundancy of bikes is something I am trying to avoid. So, the Red Rocker is going away. I've always wanted an XO (the red bike is obviously built up to emulate one), and I think it's a better suited bike for the use to which I put my daily rider (as opposed to the commuter).

Enlarge the picture above, and take note of the differences in the two frames. Compared to the red bike, the XO has pretty low bottom bracket and steeper frame angles, making it a bit more lively on the road. It also has less tire clearance, making it necessary to go with a slightly skinnier tire. All of these things could be viewed as disadvantages if you were using the bike for a lot of off-road use or loaded touring. There, the bigger tires and more stable steering of the RockHopper would give it the advantage.

For years, I rode my 700c cross bike everywhere I went and was pretty happy with it. The XO fills the cross bike niche, with smaller wheels (stronger and more agile) and will handle the occasional off-pave' jaunt just fine, once the 1.3 knobbies arrive (I don't care for the slicks that are on it).

Anyway, the upshot is that I am going to pull the Campy stuff off of the 18" RockHopper, rebuild it with some cool vintage mountain stuff, mustache bars, maybe bar-end shifters and sell it. Once it's built up, I'll post it here, if anyone is interested.

Also, if you are interested and want to spec it out as a custom build, let me know. It's pretty cold here, right now, so I probably won't be out in the shop to get started on it, for a while.

More details about the XO are posted up over on Two Wheels.

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Formula One Is Going Away

The ebay auction is ending, tonight. It has bids on it, so I know it's going away. If it goes at its current price, somebody is getting a heck of a fun bike, pretty cheaply.

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Selling the Formula One

I have put the fixed gear F1 bike up on eBay.

As much as I hate to let it go, I am so excited about this new project that I am trying to fund that it makes it worthwhile.

More on that, later.

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To Sell Or Not To Sell...

...that is the Formula One question.

The couple of long-term readers I have might remember that I bought this unfinished F1 frame from Rockfish Cycles and then removed the vertical dropouts and brazed in track-ends to convert it to a mini-velo fixed gear. (Of course, now you can buy frames like this from Sillgey, purpose-built.)

I originally had a set of bullhorn bars on the bike, but I ended up putting them on a buddy's bike. Since then, I have had a couple of different bars on it, none of which looked too good to me.

Today, I pulled the bike down and installed these old BullMoose style bars on it, and I like it. This looks pretty similar to the setup that Formula One bikes had from the factory. The proportions look good, and it's quite comfortable to ride.


Kinda hard to see the bars from this angle...

and this angle gives you a feel for the drop from the seat, but not of the shape of the bars...

Ahh, there we go. The curve, and the one-piece aspect show up pretty well in this shot.

Now, the problem is that I was changing bars out as preparation to sell the bike. I was going to put it up on eBay, starting at $125 plus shipping, and see if anybody bit.

I am trying to raise some cash for a pretty cool upcoming project, so I could use the dough. But now, I'm not sure I should get rid of it. I suppose I could always get a Sillgey frame, later, if I felt I had to have another small-wheeler...

Opinions?

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Metisse Is Gone

Click for big, and you should be able to see the nice Exage Mountain rear shifter, which matches the rear derailleur.

I slightly re-specced the Ghetto bike and listed it on craigslist at a reduced price, along with a novel-length description of the bike and the build process. After having listed it twice, and having 10 people make appointments to come see it (yet, no one ever showed up), I was anxious to make it clear that this bike was a bargain at the price, and a nice-riding bike at any cost.

It sold in two hours, to a really cool guy named James. James and his girlfriend just moved here, after having lived in Prague for years, and he had no transportation. A short train ride and a half-mile walk got him to my house, and he rode away on the bike, apparently happy as a clam with it.

I kinda hate to see it go. It was the longest-lived of my commuters, and I thought it made a cool cross bike. But, I am trying to raise funds for a new project, and I need some quick cash. So, things are getting sold...

The changes to the bike: I set it up with a 6-speed freewheel (rather than the freehub wheel which was on it), and mounted a nicer 6-speed indexed shifter so that I could dial the shifting in. Removing the Dura-Ace hubbed wheel cut my cost, and allowed the reduction in price.

Different rear wheel...

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Association Of Caffeinated Wheelmen Pins Are Available

I have about 15 pins available for sale, if anyone is in need.

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The GhettoCross Metisse - SOLD

EDIT: See two posts up for sale details.

See all of the details, here.

$175.00, shipped to the Continental U.S. Payment by PayPal (or $150.00 cash, if you are local).

Forget the ghetto aspect, this is actually a nice-riding bike. As a bonus, it should be pretty invisible to bike thieves. I'd say it would make a terrific urban-assault bike/commuter.

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Selling the Stumpy - SOLD

EDIT - (Man, I hate to see it go, but I have to liquidate, a bit. Now that it's sold, I already miss it. Oh well, I'll eventually build something to replace it. )

I took the 650b wheels off of the Stumpy, put on some 26" XT wheels and Ritchey Speedmax tires, along with racks and fenders, and listed it on eBay. It didn't make reserve, but I had a guy contact me and make an offer, which I accepted.

However, communication has been a bit spotty, and he hasn't paid for it. So, I just thought that I'd point out that it's available for $600, shipped. Just look here.

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A Cool Coffee Shop Bike for Melissa

I just built up this Nishiki for a coffee shop friend of mine, Melissa. I originally picked the bike up to strip the alloy fenders off, so I could send them to my sister for her Nishiki mixte. (Joy's mixte will eventually be on the Mixte Gallery. Keep your eyes open.)

I showed this bike to Melissa, sans fenders, and she wanted it. I had the n.o.s. Schwinn fenders still wrapped in plastic, and I told Melissa that I could paint them black, or silver if she wanted. She said no, the blue looked nice with the yellow, especially with the gold pinstripes.

So, I went to the hardware store and got some stainless steel nuts, bolts and washers to mount the fenders. Then, I shined up the chrome rims, cleaned up the rusty chrome chainguard as well as I could with aluminum foil and lemon juice, replaced the cables (and installed the snazzy blue housing to match the fenders), tuned it up and wrapped the handlebar grip areas with blue cork.

New tires and tubes rounded out the build.

I like it. It rides nice, and has a great bit of character (dig the shifter-mount bell!) and will beat the hell out walking or driving the 3/4 mile from Melissa's place to Kaladi Bros.

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Flashy Saddle on eBay

I couldn't get the photos to show just how flashy the gold color makes this saddle. It's on eBay until August 4th. The link will take you directly to the listing.

As always, if you win the auction and mention seeing this, here, I'll refund the shipping fees.


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Campy Wheels on eBay

I listed these Campy Track wheels on eBay, yesterday. They have bid up to the $325.00 Reserve Price, already.

If you win the auction and mention seeing the listing on this blog, I'll ship them for free (Continental U.S., only).

Click this link to check the auction:

Campagnolo Record Track Wheels 36 Hole High Flange Hubs.

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Association Pins Sold Out

See below.

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Enamel Pins - Sold Out!

Please email me if you are needing one. I should have some more, soon.


More info and pictures here.

Great for your hat, jacket, seat bag, helmet...whatever! $6.00 each, postpaid within the United States.
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Pay by PayPal ( My email address is also the PayPal address: jjgrinder at msn dot com.)

Mixte For Sale-SOLD

PRICE: $3oo.oo (plus $55.00 shipping within the Continental U.S.)
Model: Panasonic Sport 1000
Dimensions: 48 cm seat tube
55.5 cm effective top tube length
24 inch standover height (immediately in front of the saddle nose)
29 lbs. with kickstand

Click the pictures for a larger view...

In this picture, the seat height is set to my riding position. I am 5'10" tall, and it would work fine for me.
This picture shows the lower limit of the seat height, appropriate for someone around 5 feet tall, or so.

One of the great things about mixtes is the flexibility of sizing. It is not necessarily appropriate to follow the same guidelines as you do on a standard frame. Some ladies who are the same height as me might run out of seat post adjustment, due to a longer leg:body ratio. But most people within the 5 feet to 5'10" range would be able to ride this bike, just fine.

The bars, in this position, give the bike a somewhat "sportier" look than standard, without putting you in an extreme "aero" position. They can easily be flipped, if your tastes run that way. I call this the "Pathracer" look.

The tires are 27"x1-3/8" cyclocross-style knobbies, mounted on alloy UKAI rims. They are ideal for sandy bike lanes, dirt roads and unpaved paths.

MKS Sylvan Touring Pedals connect your feet to the Sugino crank. The 12 speed drivetrain provides a wide range of gears.

Cork grips, and wine cork shift lever pads (each with a coating of honey shellac to protect from moisture), along with vintage tourist brake levers give the cockpit a classic air.

The price of $300.00 is for the bike, as built. Modifications can be made, at extra expense.

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Singlespeed MTB Commuter Out the Door

Just did this conversion for a local customer. Details here.
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New Mixte!

This is how it came in. How to build it...how to build it...

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Raleigh Portage on eBay - SOLD

(03/02/09) That was quick. I listed it on Saturday night, and got a Buy It Now hit this (Monday) morning.

I put my Portage up for sale on eBay. It may or may not sell, but I put a Reserve price of over$500.00 on it. I have given a couple of bikes away, basically, on eBay and I don't intend to let this one go for less than what it's worth.

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If you hit the Buy It Now, and tell me that you saw it here, I will not only include the fenders but I will also refund you the $50.00 shipping.

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The Latest Build

Details here...

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This One Goes to Nashville

Details here.

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Bridgestone XO-3 On eBay

I just posted this up on eBay. Search for item number 110352065914 or 1992 Bridgestone XO-3, if you are interested.

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Progress On The Big Bike Sale

I am in the process of building up about 30 bikes, in order to have an inventory-reduction sale this Spring. Most of these bikes will be built up fairly close to stock, with an emphasis on making them safe and reliable transportation.

If you are looking for either a commuter/grocery getter (or fixed gear) let me know. I am pricing these bikes to move, in order to free up storage and work space.

If you are in the Denver area, I will be having a Swap Meet/Yard Sale at World HQ. Watch for more details here, and for an announcement on the Denver Craigslist.

Pictures, soon.

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The New Blog For GrinderBikes

Stay tuned for news!

In the meantime, check out the website: www.grinderbikes.com

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