fixed impressions

Albatross Bar!

Bad Ass!  I think I’ve changed bars five times on this bike since my dad passed it to me.  I’m thinking that this is where it’s at for casual riding now.

G

Very excited to finally be getting my Albatross bars from Rivendell today.  Being a uber-geek about bike stuff eventually makes you want to run things others don’t have, even if they are not better.  Just to be different.  In this case I’ve arrived here after extensive testing of non-traditional and traditional bar shapes.  I started with drops, then chop-and-flops, then the ubiquitous Nitto moustache bar [which I don't get, even though they look really cool and I ran it for 18 months]… now have Salsa flared Bell-Laps [best yet] but don’t think they are relaxed enough.  Hell they look fast, which is all wrong for me.  The Nitto Albatross should evoke thoughts of Raleigh Sports and the ease of a commuter/casual rider.  And on top of that it’s a Nitto product, which any one with any salt knows means the highest quality.  Set to arrive via brown santa, along with a uber-nerdy Rivendell cycling cap.

Yeah.

Peace out.

Well, I started my “summer” season officially on Memorial Day by crashing on the bike path due to negligent headset maintenance.  While falling is an inevitable part of MTB life, I usually am able to stay upright on the pave.  Well, this time I applied a good amount of skin, knee, elbow, palms and shin to the pavement. Since I sit at a keyboard 50+ hours a week, those deep bone bruises at the base of my palms are sweet, NOT.

The Univega fixed gear is just about to get a proper handlebar change-out.  I first had chop and flops on there that were part of the original bike, then I tried the ubiquitous moustache bar.  I don’t know about you folk out there, but in spite of looking cool-as-hell, those bars just hurt my hands and required a really awkward stubby stem.  Next I went to a drop bar that came of the GX [r.i.p.]  The GX was a beloved TIG-steel bike built for me by Wade at Vulture Cycles.  Most regrettably, the GX succumbed to the vagueries of east coast road salt and corroded out from the inside.  Very Sad.  Well anyway the old Salsa cyclocross bars that were on the GX are now on the Uni.  Next up though is an Albatross bar from Nitto.  I have wanted to get to this English 3-speed style bar for a while and finally ordered one from Rivendell.  Not quite sure why, other than their good nature, but Rivendell’s price is much better than others I saw on the net.  They sure are cool g33ky folk so I always try to support them anyway.  Very excited to get the bar on there for some weekend slow riding around town.

Side note:  your’s truly is buying his first house next friday and this is all very exciting.  Will have excellent opportunity to move the bike shop and all my bike storage into the house.  I’ve got gear across three locations and darned if the part/tool/cable I need is always at the location I’m not at!

Please come back soon.

G