yoothgeye
I build stuff.
I'm in love with a bicycle.
I've had 3 bikes on my radar for a while now, and 2 of them I have started as projects.
1) a single speed rigid mountain bike (a current build)
2) a BMX cruiser (currently a 24" build)
3) a 29er
After I got the personal property settlement from my insurance claim (tree fell on shop during Irene) I decided I would treat myself to a new bike with a little of the money. I started shopping for used 29" mountain bikes... single speeds. After missing a couple on Craigslist and not being impressed with the used bike prices I found a site online one night week before last and before I knew it I had ordered a 29" single speed rigid mountain bike.
It was shipped free in under 5 days. It is a Gravity G29, off brand bike shop quality bike. I wanted a short frame to mimic a BMX frame, so I ordered the 15", a day after I ordered I started to worry I'd ordered a bike too small, I'm 5' 10", but once the bike came and I assembled it, I made the right choice. The bike has a shorter wheelbase than my 26" Gary Fisher mountain bike, and it's lighter, 27 pounds. The disc brakes are awesome, and with the rigid fork endos are back! I've had lighter bikes before, but this is the first bike that I got on and it felt light after the first turn of the crank. The 33/18 gear ratio is perfect.
When I was assembling I had a new set of orange Oury grips that I swapped onto it, I took off the steel platforms and ordered a set of orange beartraps from Porkchop, and I put on a longer/lighter Avenir seat post off of a Felt MTB. I shortened the bars by about 3 inches.
Last night I finally got around to tightening all the bolts and getting on the road with it and it is an amazing bike. I am in love. Will it replace my 26" geared front suspension MTB? No. Will I ditch my BMX and SS projects, no, I will finish the SS MTB and give it to a friend, not sure on the BMX yet.
If there is one "con" to this bike, it would be about the short frame, if you try to ride flatfoot your toes will rub the tire when turning, but if you ride properly on the ball of your foot, no problems. Can't wait to get it off-road. I spent less on this bike then I would've spent on a used better known name brand that would've needed maintenance or repairs. See me smiling?
I've had 3 bikes on my radar for a while now, and 2 of them I have started as projects.
1) a single speed rigid mountain bike (a current build)
2) a BMX cruiser (currently a 24" build)
3) a 29er
After I got the personal property settlement from my insurance claim (tree fell on shop during Irene) I decided I would treat myself to a new bike with a little of the money. I started shopping for used 29" mountain bikes... single speeds. After missing a couple on Craigslist and not being impressed with the used bike prices I found a site online one night week before last and before I knew it I had ordered a 29" single speed rigid mountain bike.
It was shipped free in under 5 days. It is a Gravity G29, off brand bike shop quality bike. I wanted a short frame to mimic a BMX frame, so I ordered the 15", a day after I ordered I started to worry I'd ordered a bike too small, I'm 5' 10", but once the bike came and I assembled it, I made the right choice. The bike has a shorter wheelbase than my 26" Gary Fisher mountain bike, and it's lighter, 27 pounds. The disc brakes are awesome, and with the rigid fork endos are back! I've had lighter bikes before, but this is the first bike that I got on and it felt light after the first turn of the crank. The 33/18 gear ratio is perfect.
When I was assembling I had a new set of orange Oury grips that I swapped onto it, I took off the steel platforms and ordered a set of orange beartraps from Porkchop, and I put on a longer/lighter Avenir seat post off of a Felt MTB. I shortened the bars by about 3 inches.
Last night I finally got around to tightening all the bolts and getting on the road with it and it is an amazing bike. I am in love. Will it replace my 26" geared front suspension MTB? No. Will I ditch my BMX and SS projects, no, I will finish the SS MTB and give it to a friend, not sure on the BMX yet.
If there is one "con" to this bike, it would be about the short frame, if you try to ride flatfoot your toes will rub the tire when turning, but if you ride properly on the ball of your foot, no problems. Can't wait to get it off-road. I spent less on this bike then I would've spent on a used better known name brand that would've needed maintenance or repairs. See me smiling?
