Stripped Frame

Took almost everything off the Nashbar on Friday while watching Superman Returns. I didn't even know he was gone! Some nice surprises here--I thought I'd have to overhaul the bottom bracket, but it's a sealed one, a Stronglight. The stem is a Nitto Technomic, and the handlebars are the right diameter for the inverse brake levers I want.

Haven't gotten the headset off yet for its overhaul, just due to time. I'm hoping to get the bike finished before Superman returns again.

I feel like I must explain all the crap in the background. We're trying to move some stuff out of our basement via Craigslist. I sold my Bianchi Avenue yesterday. It was bittersweet. I realize that's coming close to showing emotion, about a bike of all things, so I'll just leave it at that.

Nashbar Treasure

All I wanted was a Brooks saddle for my Surly. My friend Joe had one, attached to a bike he wasn't using, and he offered to sell me the whole thing. Because I am an idiot, I bought it. Because I am an idiot, I thought I'd try to turn everything but the Brooks into a fixed-gear bike.


Yes, it's a Nashbar. Contain your envy. That's one of my favorite things about the bike. I figure the only way this could be less fashionable is if it had been handed out as swag at the 1976 Republican convention.

I'm naming this bike's aesthetic "false moustache" after the knockoff handlebars. It is what will guide me while choosing components. I've already made a couple decisions. The frame's too big for me anyway, so I bought some 700cc wheels on eBay and am ditching the 27-inchers. Riding a frame that's too big for you is never a good idea, but, with few exceptions, neither is a false moustache.


These dropouts are gonna work perfectly.


Rrrrrrrow!


Lugs!


It's a pretty nice frame. The flash makes it look like it's rusted through, but it's really just in need of a good clean and polish. I've ridden it to and from work a couple times, and I'm enjoying the dirty looks I've been getting from lobbyists on carbon-fiber Treks. I'm going to try to make this an all-around city bike, with a singlespeed freewheel on one side of the rear hub so I can tow my kids around in the Burley without worrying about killing us all. So, the brakes, which will fit the smaller wheels, will stay.

Tomorrow I'm gonna strip it down and start cleaning and overhauling the lucky parts that are staying.