After a trip this weekend I checked out my cellphone and located dozens of unusual pictures and movies on my cellphone:
At first I believed I should be selecting up the sign from a rover on a distant planet:
However wanting nearer I discerned what seemed to be some terrestrial-looking bushes:
Then I performed one of many movies and realized I will need to have not have locked my cellphone earlier than placing it again into my jersey pocket after taking a photograph, and it had been capturing all these items proper via the material:
I don’t know whether or not this can be a testomony to the ability of right this moment’s cell phone cameras or the sorry state of my wardrobe.
Most likely a little bit little bit of each.
Anyway, right here is the intentional picture I took earlier than returning the cellphone to my pocket whereupon it started to freak out:
This picture is illustrative of the truth that early fall is an optimum time for the biking of bicycles.
An excellent bike additionally helps:
“However the place’s the decrease half of the bike?,” chances are you’ll be questioning.
Okay, don’t get mad.
“What did you do?,” you’re now asking sternly via clenched enamel.
Look, I’ll let you know, however you need to promise you don’t get mad.
“HOW THE HELL CAN I PROMISE TO GET MAD IF I DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU DID.”
Fantastic, no matter, right here you go:
At this level your anger might have given method to profound disappointment:
And positively I perceive. Right here’s what was on there earlier than:
Not solely was the silver (each in coloration and branding) sq. taper crank extra in line with the bike’s aesthetics, but it surely was additionally a triple, netting me each gear I might probably need. Moreover, the disappearance of the triple from the fashionable bicycle is a superb tragedy, and yet one more symptom of the dumbing down of America and the world–a pathetic concession to the youthful generations who’re just too lazy and silly to function a entrance derailleur.
Sorry, but it surely’s true.
So not solely have I betrayed the triple, however I’ve additionally betrayed my very own vow to myself to make no additional adjustments to this bicycle, which as I confirmed over my end-of-summer trip was (and I hate this expression, however I’ll use it anyway) “dialed:”
Nonetheless, like the girl who tried to revive that Jesus portray, I can’t go away nicely sufficient alone:
And ever since receiving the latest OM-1 prototype I’ve thought that it actually belonged on the Roadini:
So I moved it over from the Platypus:
Changing it with the sooner prototype that had been on there earlier than:
And as all the time, this episode of “Fool’s Workshop” has been dropped at you by Dumonde lubricants:
Dumonde
Simply As a result of You Suck, That Doesn’t Imply Your Lubricants Ought to Too
So in any case, I’d been wanting to maneuver the derailleur over, and as I ready to take action I couldn’t questioning how the Roadini would really feel with a extra streamlined drivetrain. I imply I already had the stuff, and it’s not like every of that is irreversible, so I figured what the hell, whereas I’m underneath the hood I would as nicely attempt it out:
It’s doable I could revert to the triple, particularly if I trip with the bike once more subsequent 12 months, however within the meantime it really works nicely. Clearly the entrance derailleur requires much less trimming, and with the bigger rear cassette I additionally placed on there I nonetheless have a decently low gear. And whereas I’m definitely not one to fuss over Q-factor, I don’t thoughts the narrower one on the double.
As for the questionable aesthetics of the crank, whereas it could be at odds with the timeless luggery of the Roadini, I personally don’t actually thoughts it. Additionally, it’s removed from probably the most confused Roadini on the market:
I’ve no connection in anyway with the vendor, I simply stumbled upon it and was fascinated. And whereas it could be polarizing, I recognize it for instance of how there’s nothing stopping you from placing collectively a Rivendell any approach you need. There’s no legislation that you need to comply with the playbook or attempt to copy Ultraromance.
Talking of Rivendells, I see the Charlie Gallop is now accessible for preorder:
Possibly we’ll see one with SRAM Crimson AXS.
