Build update # 13
Not much to report here, but I don't want to go too many days without saying something.
There was a minor problem in the rear end of my build, so it had to be put up for a few days while the proper dropouts were ordered in. I spoke with Rob on Friday, and he was all flustered getting ready for the Dirty Kanza. This race is a big one, and it sounds like the Badger boys are planning on doing some damage.
I am getting anxious to meet my new friend, but there is no sense in rushing at this point. My frame should go back into the jig early next week when Rob and Josh return from racing.
On related topics....I have decided that I am going to go back to conventional bars on this bike. You heard that correctly, I am taking the Jones Bars off. I may leave them on the Monkey (for commuting and gravel riding), or I may do something else...who knows, but I will be using a more traditional riser bar initially on this bike.
You're going straight?
OK man you cannot just simply drop a bombshell like that and then go on about your business like nothing happened. You gots some splainin' to do here.
What's behind this switch back to regular old MTB bars?
Mark Ewers
I may not be fast, but I'm 2 old 2 go slow
Options o-plenty...(LONG answer)
When I rode my first Badger (not my Badger...just the first Badger I rode), I spent about an hour on it. This bike was a loaner from a really nice guy (one of Rob's best friends) and it had conventional bars on it.
Long story short, I really liked the bike, and never noticed hating the straight bars. I did not immediately like them, but after about 5 minutes there was no problem.
That experience combined with the discovery that my H-bars are not quite up to par has made me rethink a lot of things....Parts do not last forever, and some parts should be replaced somewhat frequently (especially when a person rides the way I do). Items like stems, bars, and seat posts are high fatigue items and should be inspected frequently, and replaced accordingly.
Additionally...just looking at the H-bar, there are a few things that are immediately evident. They are really wide, they are pretty light considering the length of tubing that is there, they flex a fair amount, and the rearward extensions allow the rider to impart a fair amount of torsion on the cross bar...put these things together, and is becomes apparent that there is a lot of stress on these bars where they fix to the stem. All bars can fail. I don't want to experience outright breakage if I can help it (Ti fails somewhat "explosively" from what I have seen). For these reasons, I will replace my bars once in a while.
Depending on how things work out...I may pick up a pair of HD Jones bars some day.
One final thought...I may talk a good deal about "how I ride". I want to make clear that I ride fairly hard for a rigid rider...but I am in no way "hard core". I don't want to oversell or undersell this whole concept of replacement...EVERY rider puts a lot of stress on their equipment, and if you think your stuff will last forever, I urge you to inspect it (or have it inspected) soon!
Sorry to preach...I have discovered a lot of surprises lately, and consider myself lucky...I really hope this helps someone.
I don't know there's just something about em
Them naked sliders sitting there all nice and pretty. They look so nice. I'm in lust.
That is what I thought.
I seriously want to get a second set just to put on my desk at work. That and a couple of I9 hub shells.
I think there is a point where art and machine work collide....there is just some sort of industrial beauty there.
must agree
They're dead sexy
sometimes...
I lay awake at night and think about how they will look attached to the stays...mostly painted some sexy color. I say "mostly", because the portion where the bolts interface will be bare stainless steel.
Want to see a bigger version of the pic?
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