Who needs a car!

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

How bloody awesome is that 

[Benner]

Actually that looks good.  I'd have a perfect excuse to leave the wife at home. 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Actually that looks good.  I'd have a perfect excuse to leave the wife at home. 

You'd need her to push start that rig

[DaveK]

One look at that reminds me why I have two cars.

[J-sews]

I call back seat!

[cgk]

My legs are burning just looking at it.  Load up kids were going.......somewhere down hill.

[Sean]

Actually that looks good.  I'd have a perfect excuse to leave the wife at home. 

Gauging from the look of it.  I'd rather think she'd be glad to see you go with both seats filled!


sean

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

My legs are burning just looking at it.  Load up kids were going.......somewhere down hill.

[Gareth]

My legs are burning just looking at it.  Load up kids were going.......somewhere down hill.

 

[glorn]

Plywood: the pinnacle of child safety materials

 


Surly makes cool bikes though. My touring rig has a Surly fork. Steel is real!

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Steel is real!

I won't argue with that

[I'm Still Bison]

Steel is real!

I won't argue with that

Steel is still the king!

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Steel is real!

I won't argue with that

Steel is still the king!

Damn straight it is

[AndyTiedye]

Steel is real!

Steel is real…
…heavy.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Steel is real!

Steel is real…
…heavy. (Image removed from quote.)

True, but it does give a more supple ride that aluminium

[glorn]

Steel is real!

Steel is real…
…heavy. (Image removed from quote.)

True, but that is really only a factor at a relatively high level of cycling ability. All things being equal kit-wise, an all steel frame bike is not that much heavier unless we are counting grams. And in most cases, the rider would be better off buying a weight loss DVD instead of a carbon fiber bike if grams are a concern. When one is fit enough to actually need to shave grams off the bike itself in order to increase speed, then one should be racing. And if one is racing, then more power to you. 

I do not race, and I could lose weight off my body before my bikes should be asked to shave a gram.

That said, my old daily ride was a Cannondale, and I used to be both fit and fast. It had a steel fork though, and I would not trade a good steel fork for anything. I also had many steel frames over the years.

Now I have 2 bikes and what seems to be a lot less time to ride (job, kids)... but one is still a Cannondale with a steel fork, though it happens to be a single speed/fixed gear messenger. My other is a titanium tourer with a Surly steel fork. That bike is drool worthy provided you like bikes that are purpose built and not meant to be feather light and fragile. It is not heavy, but not light either. Tough as nails, comfortable, and built for long miles.

One day soon I will be riding daily again. Maybe this spring. I feel a powerful need to do a century.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

I'd love to see a shot of your tourer mate

[glorn]

  With flat tires, the handle bar removed, and an inch of dust?

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

With flat tires, the handle bar removed, and an inch of dust?

Won't be the same, but go on then

[glorn]

Alright.... give me a few minutes. Happen to be off sick today, so this is doable.

[glorn]

This bike was built up by yours truly with a spec for kit that was to be durable, road fixable, comfortable, and well tested. And while I spared no expense, I also am a "bang for the buck" kind of guy who believes that a high price does not always equal high quality. I wanted a bike one could tour cross continent on more or less. Even if the continent was say... Africa. 

This means that it has MKS touring Sylvan old style pedals (clips and straps are not on right now so that the leather won't rot.. yes, I do not care for SPD... I am retrogrouchy), cyclocross geometry and drops (ie: shallow), a steel stem, steel fork, granny gear for serious climbs with a load, big Panaracer touring tires (I forget the size and failed to look... 32 I think?), really tough overbuilt wheels (Salsa rims with 105 hubs and 36 rear 32 front straight gauge steel 3 crossed spokes, Paul top mounted shifter thumbies with Dura Ace shifters, a Paul cyclocross front brake top mount lever, Avid Ultimate V brakes with Kool Stop pads, Surly bombproof fork, SKS fenders, Thompson seat post, long-nosed Selle Italia Nova saddle, Diacompe 287V brake levers, King headset, etc.

Even the water bottle is stainless steel, though I actually prefer a plastic cheapie. That one just looked good in town. 

The Surly fork was replacing a Ritchey, and has never been cut. This also explains why the bike is uncabled and has the bars removed. The Ritchey was too aggressive for this bike, so it went onto the messenger and the more slack Surly came aboard. I hope to cut it this spring and get back out there. Or I could just single speed I suppose, that bike just needs the new tires mounted. It has no gears and only a front V brake, so it isn't exactly complicated.


Anyway, here ya go... bad pics from my Blackberry:




























 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

That looks a damn decent rig to me mate

I'd be happy to put a few miles on that puppy

[glorn]

Anytime you want to make the trip.. 



I'll get it finished this spring, polish it up, and take some proper glamor shots with the good camera for you. Maybe a few ride shots as well. 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Look forward to them mate

[I'm Still Bison]

Steel is real!

Steel is real…
…heavy. (Image removed from quote.)

One day soon I will be riding daily again. Maybe this spring. I feel a powerful need to do a century.

Maybe the Tour Of The Scioto River Valley?

[glorn]

Maybe... but that's a big maybe.

Double would have been fine some years ago, but not now. I am not fit enough by any means.