Nothing like the first long (ish) ride of the season

Snow, Ice, Driftwood. Ohio?

Today, partly due to a combination of non-freezing weather, and just not feeling well in the morning, causing me to skip leg day at the gym, led to my first 'decent' bike ride of the year. I'd love to say I got 10 miles in, but the GPS says 9.9, split into two separate trips. But it was still the first real ride of the season, instead of the short little trips I had been taking, and with the 44:14 on Glowie, my legs are really feeling it.  I actually got on the bike path, in two different sections going different directions, getting a fair amount of distance before I had to turn around due to ice and snow. (The way the second trip was going, I was actually more worried about the driftwood. Ohio really has been screwing with me this year.)

I find it somewhat odd, really. The Pure Fix bikes come with 700x28 tires, and my KHS currently has 700x25 on it (originally was 700x26) but I feel like the tires on the fixie can handle a LOT more than I trust the tires on my road bike. I don't know why I feel those 3mm make a difference, but with snow on the ground, I didn't have many seconds where it felt like my bike was going to slip on ice. Falling off the bike, that's a different story.

There is a hill on the bike path that my wife doesn't really like, and she only recently got to where she can ride her road bike up it without getting off. Today, that hill was NO FUN. Also, that hill still had some ice and snow on it. Compared to the KHS Flite 223, I would have been in the gear between the 5th and 6th highest, or about 4 gears harder than it was with the stock cog. I still got up the hill and stayed on the bike, but it wasn't easy.

I might get out again Saturday for another ride, I have a 5k run in the morning though, and we are probably going out of birthday dinners that night. Gotta keep busy I guess.

When I find that Gremlin....

Oh the things I will do to it. Nasty, nasty things.

Last week, I ran into an issue when changing the gearing on my Pure Fix Zulu.  It is rare, and that is why businesses have warranties. Got a new wheel today (and a few other things I had planned on getting anyways) today, and got it installed. Now, the new wheel didn't come with a tire or tube, which makes sense. As I removed the ones from the old wheel, I thought to myself, "When you replace a tire, you put a new tube in it. I wonder if that holds true for the wheels too..."

Short answer, "yeah....."

I had the wheel, with tire on, sitting in the doorway to the room I do my repairs in, aired up, looking good, and I was getting the bike cleaned up. (I should have done that yesterday, but I hadn't gotten around to getting to the store to buy baby wipes, so I was using Simple Green. The smell brought back memories of working at Chuck E Cheese.)  BANG. I didn't even jump at the sound. After the trauma of last year and the week with 6 tubes in the KHS, I got good at changing tubes. I thought this one had gone decently well, although the valve didn't come out as far as it did on the old wheel. (The new wheel does look nicer, but a hair deeper rim on it.) I hadn't though much of it, but yeah.... I don't know if the LBS has the right tubes, since they were 60mm valves, and I hadn't gotten around to picking up a spare tube yet. (again, 60mm valves, not as easy to find.)

On the plus side, I wasn't planning on riding today anyways.

The bike was upgraded after this, since not having the tire ready didn't really have any bearing on the other stuff. I was able to switch the handlebars to a nice pair of white bullhorns, and added a rear brake. The brake came with some nice little black shimano clamps, which were great except one of the screws had the screwdriver slot poorly formed. It's just a normal screw, so I should be able to grab one from Home Depot or something for less than the gas to drive there. Really, installing the rear brake was really not that hard, it might need some tweaking once I have the tire on the wheel again though.

I do need to grab some handlebar tape still, which I had planned on getting white (The glow in the dark tape never seems to be in stock...) but with the bars being while already, I am not sure if I will go with white, black, or maybe a black/white camo combo.

(I am glad I mounted the wireless computer mount to the frame, I didn't have to find more zip ties that way.)

I really owe a lot of thanks to Pure Fix, it is rare to find a company that is easy to work with when it comes to warranty stuff. I can't wait until I get the new tire on there and can go out for a spin, even it that means using the trainer.

Clean the stable?

Right now, my stable has 3 whips, along with 3 of my wife's bikes, and the kids' bikes. I am not sure if my oldest son's bike is in the house or not, and I think my youngest's is outgrown. There is also a kids fixie (with training wheels) somewhere around here, but it is something like a 12" tire size. (Solid, not pneumatic.) On top of this, my mother-in-law's bike is in the house too, after a crash last year. I do have an aluminium Cannondale at the local bike shop, it has issues. Good components, but it might need a new fork and stem. Really, I plan to sell it off, it isn't a benefit to me at this time, nor do I see it becoming one.

I found out that I can order Pure Fix frames from Bicycle Stop in Springfield, which is only about 45 minutes away, give or take. Bicycle Stop isn't my favorite shop, personally, but when I next plan to get a new jersey, they will be the first place I'll go. (Depending on my need, I have go-to bike shops in various order, starting with Parker's in Piqua for almost everything, Carty's in Sidney for older Schwinn parts, Family Bike Shop (Troy) and Tipp Cyclery (Tipp City) for random other things. I don't like ordering parts for the most part, and half of the tools I have bought at random, from a variety of the above places. (Last time I bought parts at the bike store in Huber Heights, the shop guy seemed annoyed that I was going to do the work myself, so I avoid there unless I need a water bottle, or I am taking my wife's car to the repair shop next door.

(I should mention Countryside Bike Shop over in Greenville, nice little newer shop, only been there once to pick up a new BB for my KHS. They had it in stock, which beat Performance Bike who didn't have it in stock. (That was a fun few days, I had to have the threads on the KHS redone at Carty's, and he didn't have the BB in stock. Arty (Parker's) was on vacation that week, and I hadn't gotten the Pure Fix yet, so I did some driving that week.

Springfield is a nice bike shop, and in a lot of ways, it rivals Performance Bike. It does have the downside most local shops have though, were you are not quite taken as seriously or as well taken care of if they don't recognize you as a real cyclist, and not somebody who will just say screw it and go to Walmart. Now, being that most of the bike shops around here know me, most to the point of knowing my first name on sight, I don't have that issue locally. Springfield is just far enough that I may only be there once or twice a year, and usually I am in the area for other reasons. (It doesn't help that they are closed on Sundays, which is the usual time I go to Springfield.)

Still, I am excited that I can get the Pure Fix frames (and the bikes...) from them for MSRP. This is great, even though sales tax is involved, because shipping is expensive, and I never have the money when the sales are going on directly from Pure Fix. I've had my eye on Pure Fix's Dual tube frameset for a while now, and the cost isn't bad. The problem was shipping here would be about half the cost of the frame. Now I can drive to Springfield, and give them $100 bucks, and pay the rest when it comes in a week later. (The rest being $10 because the frames are $110 and whatever sales tax comes up to. My county has the lowest sales tax in the area, but I think it would be another 7 bucks or something. They said I could just do half down and the rest later, my mind likes thinking in rounder numbers though.)

After that, the only big cost is the wheel set, and I have a few options for that. Still, I am running out of room in the house for more bikes, so I am thinking that I might have to sell another one, which sadly means that the vintage green Schwinn Varsity may have to go. Nice bike, decent upgrades, and not sure I want to sell it. Makes me wish I had a garage to put my bikes in...

Glitches like me

So, the switching of the rear gear didn't go quite as planned. I really don't want to go into the fine details, but that is why warranties exist. Being something the LBS had never even seen before, so it does fit in near perfectly with my habit of having problems with the bizarre when it comes to bikes. At any rate, new parts are inbound, due to great service at Pure Fix Cycles. I would say the entire thing, from me finding the issue to getting it resolved, was really fast. I called them at 3:59 in the afternoon, and the email with the shipping info for the part was sent at 4:56 that same day. (To be fair, this was between 1 and 2 in the afternoon at Pure Fix's California HQ, and I am in Ohio.)

So today looked to be a great day to go riding, but with Glowie on the stand for a few days, and my cold weather gear still in the drier, I mounted the KHS onto the trainer. This took me about 5 minutes to adjust it, since I had it set for the fixie. I got in just under 3 miles while playing Mortal Kombat on the PS3, but since I hadn't played that game in about 2 years, or since before I replaced the PS3 two years ago, all the fun stuff was locked and I couldn't really remember how to play. (I bet it may have been more fun if I had set the trainer up in front of the PS2 and played Need for Speed...)

Still, I have not been on the KHS since I got Glowie back in October, though between a flat on the KHS where I had to patch the tire (not the tube, I may have to replace the tire which I just got last summer) and the 28 tires on the fixie feel more stable in the Ohio winter we have had so far that the KHS's 25 tires. This made getting on the KHS, while on the trainer, something surreal. The fit is a little better for me, but the seat is horrible, and the wires for the brakes, shifters, and computer just look like a mess. (I have a wireless computer mounted to the top tube of Glowie.) I am almost tempted to put the KHS road bike up for sale, though I don't know if doing the Double Donut 64 mile race would be sane on a Fixie. Then again, sane is not often a word associated with me...

I did move the saddle position on the Fixie to closer match the KHS, I will have to switch the stem again back to stock, but next weekend, I expect to have the Zulu dialled in near perfect.

(Then again, I could sell the KHS, and if I can sell the Cannondale that is surplus, I might be able to afford a Ti frame... or maybe an Oscar. That thing is shiny.)

New parts

Glowie is going to be going under some mods this week, as I just got a new part in the mail today, a 14t Fixed Cog.

Since the Pure Fix fixies ship out with a 16t rear gear, this will give me a bit more power to the bike. Also, it was cheaper to buy a new rear gear than a new front gear...  this will give me a 44:14 (22:7 or sorta Pi ) ratio instead of the original 44:16 (11:4 or 2.75) so I think that is about a 14% increase in speed per the same cadence, which means the cadence for 10 mph becomes just under 11.5 mph.

The gear itself was on the Pure Fix site, but I had a coupon, so it was free (not counting shipping.) I think next might be some bull horns, which will probably need some bar tape as well.

I will probably switch the gears out tonight, not really looking forward to finding the new sweetspot for the rear wheel.

I haven't been on my KHS in months now, I patched one of the tires, but still weary of it. I probably will have to put new tires on it, or at least 1 new tire. Oh well, could be worse I guess.

(I also picked up a small backpack like bag for a buck with my order from Pure Fix, they are handy enough for some of the things I do. I think this is the same material as the reusable grocery store bags...)

What part of TURN don't I understand?

Went out for a quick ride on Glowie, which became an adventure in the last three blocks.

It started out well, since I didn't have a lot of time, I took the bike on a route I hadn't used with that bike yet. (The weather was beautiful, it was supposed to rain, instead they now predict horrible weather for tomorrow.) The Strava segments were not my best, and one of them was among my worst.

What was interesting about the trip was that I did an out and back to the current end of the local bike path with a turn around in a construction zone. Measuring from the footbridge (Why the Hell does Piqua have two bridges on the bike path with stairs?) to the construction site, Strava gives it around 1.8 miles. (It varies on two different pages for the same segment.) It took me 7:56 to head out, and only 7:55 to return. Only 1 second difference in the two directions, which I really find amusing.

I felt good coming out of the last section of the route, and got onto Main street. Seeing the light was still green, I gunned it. I realized as I entered the turn at somewhere north of 20 mph that I was on a fixie, and I wasn't about to coast that turn. I had to accept that I was probably going to crash into the curb, and it was probably going to freaking hurt, so I did the only reasonable thing I could decide in the fraction of time allowed, I changed direction and aimed for the curb head on. I managed to jump my front wheel up, and the rear may have come up as well, but it hit the curb hard, and I felt the bike momentarily ride only on the front wheel onto the grass and gravel of the parking lot / grass of the factory on the corner. The bike felt a bit wobbly as I headed out from there for the few blocks home, but my speed was about normal. Once home, I put the bike on the repair stand, cleaned it up a bit, and adjusted the rear wheel. No visible damage to the bike, not the frame, not the wheel, not the tire. It did knock the wheel loose, but it was an easy thing to tighten, and I actually got the lag out of the chain this time. (So it is now, in theory, better than before my ride today.)

I don't really want to think what would have happened had that been my road bike I was on at the time. That is the second incident that I am lucky to have walked rode away from this year. (And I didn't destroy my wheels this time!)

If I had a tail light, I'd have gone out for another ride. It looks great out there, a shame the Indiana Weather Service has predicted some real nasty weather for tomorrow. (Which includes Trick or Treat.)

Pure Fix Zulu - review

One week ago, I got my new bike built, and I almost have the settings zeroed in. The bike, a Pure Fix Zulu, is a solid bike, once you get it adjusted.

My bike is actually a second generation Pure Fix, which gives it a nicer head badge, a second area to mount a water bottle cage, and some screws in the back to help adjust the rear wheel. The head badge is nice though, and I am happy to have the option for a second water bottle cage. (The pictures on the website show both versions.)

I still don't have it dialed in completely, partially due to wanting a newer stem. Pure Fix has an adjustable one for about $20 plus shipping. I might try to find one locally, it is a common enough part. The other main thing that is bothering me is that the rear tire seems low. The stock tires are rated for 85 PSI, and at about 200 pounds, that tire looks like it will give me a pinch flat. It hasn't happened yet, and it might just be shell shock from the many flats my road bike has gone through since I got a new wheel set.

Really though, aside from not being the most comfortable setup for me (I wish the steerer tube was taller) at the moment, that is all I can really complain about. (Well, that and a fixie is a lot harder than I am used to, since I am more used to a 24 speed bike.)  The only other thing that seems odd to me is the small difference when changing from a forward motion to a reverse motion on the pedals, if my stroke is not quite right, I feel a little jump in the chain. If I had the rear wheel in with the chain tighter, that would probably go away. It is better after I adjusted it, and if it wasn't set as a fixie and was instead was using the freewheel, it wouldn't even be an issue. Heck, I think I have noticed it on my geared bike before, and not realized it until now.)

The bike handles great though, barring some hills which I still have to get used to. There is no shifting down, and sometimes I get to the top of a hill winded and only moving a few MPH, slower than I am used to, but the expenditure to get up is more too. Going down the hills is another matter. I am still building confidence in the down-hills, not to mention the issue of turning while still pedaling at speed. Then means wider turns so far, though as I get better that will improve somewhat.

The seat isn't too bad, though it took some adjusting to make it just right. For a stock saddle, it may be the best seat I have had. I might even like it better than the expensive one I put on my road bike, though with only a 20 mile ride and a a few shorter rides, it isn't fair to say yet.

I don't mind riding though more challenging sections of the bike path either, I don't really worry about hitting a rock, or riding off onto the grass, like I would on my road bike. It is actually kinda nice to be able to not worry about the terrain as much. If not for my legs getting really tired quickly, as well as my arthritis in my hands acting up quickly, it would be perfect. Once I get a new stem, and more time on the bike, those issues won't matter.

Of course, with the Zulu, the key selling point beyond the bike itself is the glowing. I haven't ridden at night yet, partially due to not having lights on it, and partially because it is basically winter in Ohio. It is cold, almost too cold in the day time, let alone at night, to go for a ride much of the time.  But that doesn't mean I haven't seen it glow while in use. There is an underpass or two around here just dark enough that the bike will begin to glow while traversing. It is just for a few seconds, but it works beautifully. Also, when putting the bike into the house, it glows a little.  I also replaced the original hand grips with the same model of grips, except for glow in the dark. I don't know why that wasn't stock, but I like it better this way. (It isn't that I replaced them, rather I just installed the glow in the dark model instead of the regular ones during the build.) It really takes it's moment to shine though when I leave it in the living room. I turn the light out before bed, and poof, glowing bike. I love it.

I am happy with the choice to get a Zulu model. (Though it was almost out of stock when I wanted to order, I did also consider the possibility of ordering the Kilo and then the yellow glow wheels, but aside from that costing an extra $120 (though I'd have a spare set of wheels...) I really like the pure white color better.

I will admit, there is some temptation to add the Oscar to my stable, modded with bull horns. The chrome does look nice, but hey... I don't have the money for that at the moment. No matter how shiny it is.

Once I get used to it, I am sure it will be one of the more active bikes in my stable.