19 Jan 2010 :: Feeling Chipper
Today I built up my new fat tire commuter/long range bicycle. It isn't exciting. It is a '80 Rockhopper converted to 650b and is SS. Gears may eventually be on the way, but right now it is what it is. I have a couple things that I might change to make it a little bit more comfortable, but right now I have a couple things to pontificate upon.
Leather saddles, specifically Brooks. The "fixie" craze brought them to the mainstream after years of being the lust objects of the retrogrouches. This summer I needed a new saddle, found a lightly used Professional on craigslist and I think I like them. I did a ~50 mile ride on it two weeks ago and was minimally uncomfortable, and none of it had to do with the saddle- bears mentioning the ride was flat, so lots of saddle time. Who knew? That being said, they require retarded levels of upkeep and weigh a ton.
Full coverage fenders are fantastic. I have crappy Planet Bike ones, but they really do keep the grime off and make grocery runs awesome. This also goes for racks. Right now, my new build has a rear rack and full fenders, so it is my "everything" bike. I have a fixed gear and a SS MTB.
Handlebars are the biggest thing for riding comfort. I've found that an upright posture, a nice angle and two to three handlebar positions are a must. With MTB geometry, I think a swept bar of some type works great- the hand position on the grips is usually fairly fantastic and there is usually somewhere you can get narrow and low to switch things up. On road bikes, the geometry seems to beg for three positions. A cruising, somewhat upright position, a climbing, aggressive riding position, and a stretched out, compact aero position. On the road, nothing burns me out better than my fixed gear- MTB SS is lackadaisical in comparison.
I like commuting and I love mountain biking. Long road rides are kinda dull and aren't particularly engaging. I'm looking for a new person to ride offroad with- if you are interested in trying it out, I will have a bike that should work for most ready in a week or two.
Behave yourselves. |
