Bike Project 1020(Eyowen2).1

I watched Kijiji for about a month before seeing much that was interesting and not too expensive. I just wanted something in decent condition that I could work on over the winter.

Some were too big or too small or just too much money to even go look at. Then a GT Tequesta from the '90s showed up, in Nipigon of all places. Always loved the distinct GT frames. So the last Friday of my vacation we set off for a nice drive on a beautiful sunny day. I sure wish that you could see Lake Superior more on that drive. You know it's right there but you only get brief glimpses of the water and shoreline. 

The bike was in average condition and maybe I paid a bit much but not full asking as I normally do. I did a quick once over and changed the tires. A couple quick trips around the block and she was ready to ride. I rode back and forth to work a couple times with no issues. 

I have some parts ordered to turn her from an old mountain bike into a single speed drop bar monster cross. It's a very light chromoly frame and with the gears and shifters removed it will be very light with huge tires. I've named her Eyowen II, after the first bike I rebuilt years ago. Stay tuned as parts arrive. 

 Eyowen II

Eyowen

 

Bike Project 920 (Lael 1x10).2

 Well that project ended with a disappointing finish. Removing the cassette revealed a freehub that was about 5mm too narrow for a 10 speed cassette. :(

Next.... 

Bike Project 920 (Lael 1x10).1

First step was some research on the Microshift Advent system, a very affordable drivetrain option. That done and the decision to run 1x10 Advent X made, I stopped in the basement while doing laundry to check out the crankset on a parts bike sitting in a corner to see if it could be disassembled and reconfigured into a single ring crank for the project. 

Next job was to remove the square taper crank from the frame which requires a crank puller and some muscle. I have a puller but haven't used it in 5 years. All the lessons Farzam taught me continue to come into play when I work on old bikes. The crank came off with little trouble. I removed the pedals and the big chain ring and then tested the 39 tooth small ring in the outside position. It's not new or shiny (yet) but it should do the job.   

Yeah I know...

it's been more than a year since I've entered anything on this blog, closer to two years in fact. Lots has changed. Much remains the same. I'm not going to spend any time making excuses for not putting any words here, just pick it up and move on.

I guess the biggest news has been the arrival of AJ and Jess' first child, Blakely May. She arrived last October and after a very rough 6 weeks and a month in hospital she is a very healthy 11 months old. She's been walking for over two months and is very entertaining. We got to spend some time with her when they visited in July. She even slept over which was a thrill. The grandsons are all good but missing their friends and sports. 

 

Since the long weekend in July when we spent three nights at Mink Mountain we've both been dieting. Not the soul crushing kind of diet where you starve yourself and try to pretend you don't miss certain meals. Simply cutting down portions and getting back on a bike has done wonders. I made every excuse in the book for not riding to work, but finally with this new effort just decided to do it. The first few days were tough. It meant wearing bike shorts into an environment where ridicule was very likely. My butt was just not ready for riding in jeans or shorts. It means leaving about 15 minutes earlier than by car. It also means I still have a full tank of gas purchased in late June. 

I found a new way to get there with minimal time on the busy streets. Now on the way home if the sun is out I'm going home the long way. Riding has always been a way to think things through and destress after a work day. I've definitely missed pedalling.

My basement bike parking/shop had been left in a state of disarray. When I stopped riding I also stopped working on the bikes. When I cleaned up and tuned the bikes I would commute on I found that I also missed time spent with tools in my hands and grease on them. I'm aching for a bike project. As of this moment my plan is to convert Lael (an already heavily modified Trek Multitrack) from a 3x7 drivetrain to a 1x10.  

Work has me busy all day ordering, returning and dealing with issues in the warehouse that now has 11 people running around. There are definite challenges and frustrations but I can't wait to get there and get started every morning.

Hockey is another post all on it's own. With the Covid situation and the restrictions the city has placed on activity in the arenas, I'm aiming at taking a season off until this all hopefully goes away.