Tumgik
#Hope carbon crankset
time2shinebmx · 2 years
Photo
Tumblr media
Money Is A Hell Of Drug. Stay Focused & Check Out This Custom Built Marin Alcatraz 26" Dirt Jumper for one of our main shredder’s Xander George! Not Just BMX, We Got It All. Specs as follows: Marin Alcatraz DJ Frame Manitou Circus Expert 26" Forks Shimano Saint Crankset FSA Tapered Headset Renthal FATBAR Lite Carbon Bars Spank Split Stem RaceFace Rail Seat Post Ergon Gel Saddle Maxxis DTH Tires Spank Spoon 32 Rims Profile Elite MTB Hubset Sapim Spokes ODI Elite Lock On Grips TRP HY/RD Mechanical Caliper HOPE 140mm Rotor BOX One Brake Lever BOX One Chain All Available In Store or Online Now at www.TIME2SHINEBMX.com #dirtjumper #custom #complete #bmx #ergon #manitou #marin #alcatraz #trp #hope #renthal #spank #spankmtb #profile #profileelite #mtb #dj #mytimeisnow #time2shine #time2shinebmx (at Time 2 Shine, LLC) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cj9fsuhAhJq/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
0 notes
bikesandaccessories · 5 years
Text
LIVELY BIG WHEEL TRAIL BIKE IS DIAMONDBACK RELEASE 4 C CARBON
The takeaway: The Release is a competent Trail Bicycle for your undertakings.
Who It's For: Riders searching for a high esteem Trail Bicycle with current highlights and innovation.
What We Love: It offers natural riding for an assortment of the landscape. Extraordinary shading as well.
Something We Don't: It's very overwhelming
Regardless of whether you're hoping to overcome specialized plummets, long unfaltering trips, or both, the Diamondback Bikes  Release  is an adaptable Trail Bicycle that is additionally decent esteem. For $2,699, the Release 4 C Carbon  offers a double connection back suspension plan, simply taking care of, a dropper post, smooth drivetrain, and brakes, and magnificent Maxxis tires.
Tumblr media
The DiamondBack  Release 4 C Carbon  highlights 130mm of back movement through Diamondback's Level Link framework, and a 140mm travel Fox Rhythm 34 fork, giving you bounty to work with for practically any trail.
The geometry is, contrasted with current models, to some degree short in the compass, with a more extreme head tube edge. Geometry is dependably a tradeoff, and this bicycle offers taking care of that is simpler to oversee at lower speeds than the more extended and Slacker Bicycles that are in design. That should make it a Strong Bicycle for less experienced riders, with instinctive taking care of and a steady ride by and large.
Dependable Components
Investigating the DiamondBack Release 4 C Carbon subtleties you'll think that it's worked with regarded parts, and some decent highlights. It accompanies Maxxis Minion DHF/DHR II 2.3 in. EXO tires, which are probably the best tires available for blended trail conditions. Far and away superior, the tires and edges are tubeless prepared for improved execution. The Shimano SLX 1x11 drivetrain and pressure driven plate brakes are both smooth, consistent and commotion free.
Tumblr media
This model will accompany a dropper post too, however an organization agent expressed that a TranzX YSP32FL dropper will come on the freely accessible bicycles rather the KS found in the pictures of our demo bicycle here.
·         Casing: Aluminum
·         Wheel Size: 29-inch
·         Travel: 130mm
·         Stun: Fox Performance Float DPS EVOL
·         Fork: Fox Rhythm 34, 140mm
·         Drivetrain: 1x11
·         Crankset: Raceface Æffect, 30t
·         Back Derailleur: Shimano SLX Shadow Plus
·         Tape: Shimano SLX, 11-46
·         Brakes: Shimano SLX water powered plate, 180mm rotors
·         Seatpost: Trans X dropper, 125-170mm travel (outline estimate subordinate)
·         Edges: Diamondback Blanchard 28R, tubeless prepared
·         Tires: Front-Maxxis DHF 2.3 in.; Rear-Maxxis Minion DHR II 2.3 in. tubeless prepared
·         Sizes: S, M, L, XL
In case you're willing to spend more, you can venture up to the DiamondBack Release 4 C Carbon. This model accompanies a Fox Performance Float DPX2 stun, which has a greater pressure change run, alongside a 140mm travel Fox34 Performance Float fork. In addition, the brakes get a move up to Shimano XT for much additionally ceasing force.
Ride Impressions
The trails on the cross-country course at Sea Otter were hard-pressed and rutted on occasion, with free, dusty spots all through.
Tumblr media
 There were relentless trips with soak areas and quick, moderately straight plummets. This bicycle may not be the ideal bicycle for aggressive cross-country hustling on this specific cross country course, however, it could be utilized for that with the correct rider.
For myself, I observed it is an extraordinary bicycle for overcoming the trails at my very own pace. The territory wasn't particularly specialized, and I had the option to move over any grooves easily on the 29-inch wheels. I just experienced difficulty with one spot, on a genuinely steep area at the highest point of ascension. Named "Heaven Hill" on a Strava section, it wasn't really the deficiency of the bicycle, yet more so the wellness dimension of the rider. All things considered, it's important this is a significant overwhelming bicycle, which makes any precarious ascension all the more testing.
Tumblr media
As another bicycle in new territory, it demonstrated both solid and fun. I didn't consider the bicycle now and again or acknowledge I wasn't individually, which wasn't simply because I couldn't quit taking in the lovely, moving scene around me. I think it addresses how great the DiamondBack Release 4 C Carbon is—it felt normal, and there were minutes when it vanished underneath me.
At last, I ended up needing to evaluate the bicycle again on the progressively specialized landscape, to perceive what it could truly do. Yet, taking all things together, the DiamondBack Release 4 C Carbon is an extraordinary all Mountain Bikes that will address the issues of numerous riders.
0 notes
bittenpath-blog · 6 years
Text
48cm:UK power meter maker eyes US market
PowerSense meters start at about $300 including shop-install.
OXFORD, United Kingdom (BRAIN) — A new power meter brand based here is looking to expand its sales in the U.S. with a crank-based meter that retails for about $300 including installation.
Avio already is selling its PowerSense meters though a handful of retailers in the U.S. who buy direct from the company. Avio hopes to have an agreement with a U.S. distributor by the start of the third quarter this year. 
The PowerSense meters look similar to left-crank based power meters from Stages, 4iii and other brands. The difference is that Avio sells the meters without a crank. 
Retailers install them on customers’ existing left crank, including most recent Shimano road and mountain bike cranks. The meters sell for $260, with a suggested installation charge of $42. Customers can opt to install the meters themselves, but there’s little incentive because they’ll have to buy an installation kit that costs $42. 
Retailers earn margin on the sale and additional revenue from the installation; they can also bundle the installation with other service work, said Mike Daveney, the company’s managing director. 
“We’ve seen shops here offer to do other service on the bike, like a tuneup or bike clean, and then they charge for the service and the power meter and do the installation for free. Margins can go through the roof,” Daveney said.
PowerSense meters are assembled in Cornwall, UK, from components largely made in China and the Middle East. 
Avio was founded by entrepreneur Darryl Mattocks, who also owns a company that produces industrial sensors and a power meter for rowing. The bike product was in development for about three years before launching last year. It is distributed in the UK by Raleigh. 
The PowerSense is among the lowest priced power meters on the market assuming the customer already has a crank. Stages’ power meters start at $350 for its own carbon fiber crank arm with sensor, which fits SRAM, RaceFace and FSA cranksets. Its lowest priced Shimano power meter is $529. 4iii cranks start at $400 if 4iii installs its meter on a customer’s crank at its factory. Watteam offered user-installed meters that started at $260 retail, but that company ended production last year and said it was refocusing on the OEM market.
Besides the kits that fit recent Shimano alloy cranks, PowerSense will install meters on some carbon cranks from SRAM and Campagnolo at its factory. The company does not expect to immediately offer that option in the U.S., but might eventually set up a U.S. office to do those installations, said Daveney. 
The PowerSense is rated to IP67 weather resistance; Daveney said Avio’s experience making rowing power meters helped it learn how to make waterproof products. 
The device communicates with head units via ANT+, so it works with Garmin and Wahoo units. It also has a Bluetooth transmitter that can be used to communicate with mobile phone apps. 
It has 100 hours of battery life. That’s less than the life claimed by some other power meters, but Daveney said that unlike others, the PowerSense does not drain the battery when the bike is at rest, so it actually can last longer between battery changes. 
Daveney said Avio is developing a power meter that takes measurements from the left and right arms, as well as a head unit and other products. 
More information at avio.mobi/powermeter-cycling.
Tumblr media
0 notes
changebikeuk · 4 years
Text
What Is The Best Folding Bike to Buy in 2020?
Buying a Folding Bike: What Is The Best Folding Bike to Buy in 2020?
So you’ve finally decided that a folding bike is right for you. But which one is the perfect fit for you? Today we break down the Change Bike range so you can make the right choice!
View Folding Bikes
Read Article
When choosing a bike, you need to consider the following elements;
Price- the market offers a wide range of bikes that feature different prices. The quality and parts used in the construction of the bikes is generally well-reflected in the price you are paying. If you are looking to buy a folding bike based entirely on the price, then think about how long you want your bike to last, and whether reliability is important to you.
Ease of use- you also need to consider features that make the bike easy to use. For instance, the weight of the bike, it’s gearing, and speed elements. Consider a bike that can cater to your needs and one that you can operate effortlessly.
Size- the size of the bike affects the ease with which you can use the bike. Consider a bike that is easy and neatest and takes up the least amount of room when it is folded. You want a product that you can travel with easily.
ChangeBike is one of the leading manufacturers of a wide range of bikes in the market.
Below is a round-up of the current range of Change Bike folding bikes and some of the pros and cons alongside them. We hope that this guide allows you to buy your next folding bike with confidence that you are making the right choice.
Hybrid – DF – 811
£1,299 Select options
1. Hybrid-DF-811
We believe this is the best hybrid folding bike in the market in 2020. The bike is manufactured using the most durable aluminium material in the market. The aluminium is also quite light, especially on the folding frame. The bike also features a carbon monocoque fork, and its folding system is internationally patented. The design of the bike is 100% tool-free hence the reason why it is considered one of the best folding bikes in the market.
The folding frame is the only one in the market to achieve an ISO 4210 certification. The product’s hybrid geometry is tried and tested and proven effective. The internal cable routing system is brand new. These are features that are brand new to the Change Bike range, and you will struggle to find on other brands of folding bike. You can purchase the bike online, and it will be delivered using a tracked delivery system while fully-insured.
Pros
The bike comes in a wide range of sizes
It features a light and sturdy aluminium foldable frame
It does not require the use of tools during its assembly
Cons
Not particularly well-suited to rough terrain or trails.
Trail – DF-809
£1,199 Select options
2. Trail – DF – 809
This is the best folding mountain bike to buy in 2020 if you’re looking for a hard-wearing folding bike that won’t break the bank. This folding mountain bike is made using the strongest and lightest aluminium frame found in the market, with a design unique to Change. It is, therefore, easy to navigate and manoeuvre because it is not inconveniently heavy. This folding mountain bike also features an internationally patented folding system that is unique and high-quality. The bike does not require any kind of tools to fold and unfold, meaning you can get going as quickly as possible.
The mountain bike features a Suntour XCR fork, a Shimano groupset, and Avid BB5 mechanical brakes. It also features a tried and tested MTB geometry, making it the best folding mountain bike to buy in the Change Bike range of bikes and the market at large. Additionally, it comes with a pair of Wellgo quick-release pedals and a change bike fold away carry bag.
Pros
It features a new internal cable routing system
It is available in a wide range of colours
It comes with a quality carry bag
Cons
Is marginally heavier than the Hybrid option.
Trail – DF-809
£1,199 Select options
3. Trail PRO – DF – 812
The DF-812 is quickly becoming one of the best folding mountain bikes on the market and is the top-spec folding mountain bike that we produce and sell here at Change Bike. It features a full-size frame that is manufactured using lightweight and high-quality aluminium. The folding frame has been tried and tested to ensure its quality and functionality. The handlebar, stem, and seat post are also made using aluminium. All the bike parts, including the wheels, brakes, chain, and crankset, are made using high-quality materials that are guaranteed to last for a long time. As with all of the Change Bike folding bikes, the DF-812 is fully parts-compatible with regular bike parts, meaning you can change and customise the bike to your own preference or specification.
Other impressive features of the folding mountain bike include its Shimano Deore Groupset, Fox Float 32 forks, and Mavic Crossride Wheelset. It is designed to handle even the toughest of terrains. It also features the most robust and most effective quick-release pedals.
Pros
The bike is available in 3 sizes
It is available in two colours (green and blue)
It comes fully insured with a tracked delivery system
It is quite durable
Cons
Luggage options are limited.
City – DF – 702
£999 Select options
4. City – DF – 702
This commuter bike is one of the best products of its kind in the market. The bike is designed in such a way that you can roll, carry, and get it to stand when it is folded. The folding technology also allows you to take it on tours and travel destinations without compromising on its performance. The bike features 700c wheels that will enable you to ride it for long distances with relative ease.
It also helps that it is a light design, weighing at a little over 10 Kgs. For this reason, you do not have to worry about the bike’s weight when riding or carrying for long distances. The weight also makes it easy to travel on a bike and enhances its rideability. It also features a familiar riding geometry, which is not an element that regular folding bikes possess. The frame design is completely unique to Change Bike and ensures your experience of riding a Change Bike is unique.
Pros
The commuter bike is lightweight and easy to use for long-distance riding
It is made of high-quality materials
It is available in 4 different sizes and two colours (black and white)
Cons
It is only available for purchase directly from Change Bike
DF – 833
£649 Select options
5. Frame-Only DF- 833
This is a frame-only design. It is ideal for people that are looking to construct their bikes from scratch. It may also come in handy if you already have a fully-assembled bike but would like to turn it into a folding bike. The frame of this bike is the only one of its kind to pass the MTB frame safety test, thanks to its globally-patented folding system.
The frame is fully compatible with bikes from a wide range of manufactures. This means that it allows you to construct the best and most convenient bike from scratch. The frame comes accompanied by a wide range of accessories that are aimed at helping you get your bike up and running as fast as can be. Some of these accessories include quick-release pedals by Wellgo, and a bike fold away carry bag manufactured by ChangeBike.
Pros
The frame is compatible with a wide range of bike part brands
It is quite durable
It is available in three sizes and three colours
Cons
It only comes in three sizes
DF – 733
£599 Select options
6. Frame-Only DF- 733
This is a lightweight fully-folding frame made from high-quality materials. It is a suitable option for people looking to construct their bikes from the ground up. Like the frame mentioned earlier, this one is also fully compatible with a wide range of bike parts made by different manufacturers in the UK and around the world . This is not a feature that you will find in most products of its kind in the market.
The frame’s design is fully-patented, and it is the only product of its kind in the market to meet the EN14766 safety standards. The bike comes with a pair of quick-release pedals, and a fold carry-away bag made by ChangeBike. The folding frame is highly durable and flexible.
Pros
It comes in a wide range of sizes
It is highly durable and flexible
It comes with added accessories for added convenience
Cons
It is only available in black and white
Conclusion
Thank you for taking the time to read this review guide on which folding bike is the best to buy in 2020. If you have any suggestions or points that you would like answered, then please reach out to us and we will do our best to answer your question!
Thanks for taking the time to read this post! What would you like to see now?
Go to the Blog
View our Folding Bikes
Get in Touch with Change
City – DF – 702
£999 Select options
Hybrid – DF – 811
£1,299 Select options
Trail – DF-809
£1,199 Select options
Trail PRO – DF – 812
£1,599 Select options
The post What Is The Best Folding Bike to Buy in 2020? appeared first on Change Bike.
1 note · View note
fxck-uu-blog1 · 6 years
Text
58cm:The Santa Cruz Chameleon goes carbon
Santa Cruz's ever-popular Chameleon has been given a new lease of life with a brand-new carbon frame construction, whilst retaining almost identical geometry to the award-winning alloy model.
Santa Cruz Chameleon 7 R1 29 review
Stif Morf review
The new range of carbon Chameleons cost from £3,799 up to a lofty £5,699 for the top end ride. There are four models, an S and S + and SE Reserve and SE Reserve +.
The new Santa Cruz Chameleon Carbon
Although the most dramatic change to new the Chameleon is the carbon frame, the geometry has seen some minor tweaks over the aluminium bike.
ADVERTISEMENT
The 27.5+ bike sees a reduction in reach numbers across all of the available sizes from the aluminium bike of around 4mm, a reduction in wheelbase by between 8 and 14mm, but the head tube angle is made slacker by 0.3 degrees.
The 29er bike's geometry maintains identical reach figures to the alloy model but shrinks in wheelbase length by around 10mm on each size and the head tube angle remains the same.
Santa Cruz Chameleon specs and geometry
Chameleon 25.7+ geometry
Chameleon 29 geometry
Santa Cruz Chameleon C S 27.5+ and 29 specs and prices
Frame: Carbon C 29/27+ Hardtail
Fork: Fox 34 Float Performance, 130mm, 29" (27.5+) / Fox 34 Float Performance, 120mm 29" (29)
Derailleur: SRAM GX Eagle, 12spd
Shifters: SRAM GX Eagle, 12spd
Cassette: SRAM XG1275 Eagle, 12spd, 10-50t
Chain: SRAM GX Eagle, 12spd
BB: SRAM DUB 68/73mm Threaded BB
Headset: Cane Creek 40 IS Integrated Headset
Tyres: Maxxis Rekon, 27.5"X2.8", 3C Exo TR (front), Maxxis Rekon, 27.5"X2.8", 3C Exo TR (rear) (27.5+) / Maxxis Minion DHF 29"X2.35, 3C Exo TR (front) Maxxis Ardent Race 29"X2.35, 3C Exo TR (rear) (29)
Sealant: Stans
Front hub: DT Swiss 370, 15x110, 32h
Rims: Race Face AR Offset 40 27.5" (27.5+) / Race Face AR Offset 27 29" (29)
Spokes: DT Swiss Competition
Rear hub: DT Swiss 370, 12x148, XD, 32h
Brakes: SRAM Guide T 180mm
Crankset: SRAM Stylo 7k 148 Dub, 30t - 170mm (XS-S), 175mm (M-XL)
Handlebar: Race Face Aeffect R
Stem: Race Face Aeffect R, 50mm
Saddle: WTB Silverado Pro
Seatpost: RockShox Reverb Stealth, 31.6
Grips: Santa Cruz Palmdale
Price: £3,799 / $3,799 / AU$N/A
Santa Cruz Chameleon C SE 27.5+ and 29 specs and prices
Frame: Carbon C 29/27+ Hardtail
Fork: Fox 34 Float Performance, 130mm, 29" (27.5+) / Fox 34 Float Performance, 120mm 29" (29)
Derailleur: SRAM GX Eagle, 12spd
Shifters: SRAM GX Eagle, 12spd
Cassette: SRAM XG1275 Eagle, 12spd, 10-50t
Chain: SRAM GX Eagle, 12spd
BB: SRAM DUB 68/73mm Threaded BB
Headset: Hope Integrated Headset
Tyres: Maxxis Rekon, 27.5"X2.8", 3C Exo TR (front), Maxxis Rekon, 27.5"X2.8", 3C Exo TR (rear) (27.5+) / Maxxis Minion DHF 29"X2.35, Exo TR (front) Maxxis Ardent Race 29"X2.35, 3C Exo TR (rear) (29)
Sealant: Stans
Front hub: Hope Pro4, 15x110, 28h
Rims: Santa Cruz Reserve 37 27.5" (27.5+) / Santa Cruz Reserve 27 29" (29)
Spokes: DT Swiss Competition
Rear hub: Hope Pro4, 12x148, XD, 28h
Brakes: SRAM Guide R 180mm
Crankset: SRAM 1X Eagle 148 Dub, 30t - 170mm (XS-S), 175mm (M-XL)
Handlebar: Race Face Aeffect R
Stem: Race Face Aeffect R, 50mm
Saddle: WTB Silverado Pro
Seatpost: Rockshox Reverb Stealth, 31.6
Grips: Santa Cruz Palmdale
Price: £5,699 / $5,699 / AU$N/A
You can read more at BikeRadar.com
0 notes
Text
New Post has been published on A1 Coaching
New Post has been published on https://www.a1coaching.net/the-colourful-enduring-life-of-a-bicycle/
The Colourful & Enduring Life of a Bicycle.
A bicycle remains one of the simplest and most efficient forms of human transportation. Its design is so good it is hard to improve upon. Bits and pieces have evolved but the basic design has remained the same for the last century. The frame geometry, the size of the wheels and the way the cyclist sits on the bicycle all contribute to how well the bicycle moves. A well designed bike will feel like an extension of the body—the rider and machine will become one, moving with fluidity over incredible distances. A good, properly fitting bike, is hard to retire even when it no longer has the latest transmission, wheels or brakes.
When a vintage Mariposa, built a decade or so ago, comes in for a restoration or a simple tune up, it feels special, especially when we know the bike has been ridden consistently for years. Over time, those bikes develop a storyline that becomes part of their patina, etched with the kilometres. One Toronto based customer, whose Mariposa was built twenty years ago, logs close to 20,000 kilometres each year while he puts roughly 800 on his car. His bicycle has hundreds of thousands of kilometres while his car, of the same vintage, has less than half that. A lawyer who works downtown, he rides it all over the city during the weekdays, and then, takes part in long randonneur events on the weekends. Perhaps, he will ride it for another twenty years.
We now live in an increasingly materialistic society where objects are disposed of instead of fixed. It frustrates my father, who is part of a generation that repaired and used items until they were worn out, that he can no longer fix the dishwasher, or the toaster, or the vacuum cleaner, like he once did, as the parts are no longer available. Products no longer come with wiring and schematic parts diagrams. Appliance repair shops that were once in every neighbourhood, are increasingly rare. The hope and expectation is that we will put our broken items out on the curb, and buy a new ones. Of course, we all know this is wrong, but find it hard to avoid as few new products are built without planned obsolescence. So, it is refreshing to repair an old bike, to keep it going, to keep it out of the landfill, and to build new frames that can be used for decades and passed on.
Over the years, I’ve ridden dozens of bicycles, from steel frames that my father built in his shop, to glued aluminum frames made in Italy, to custom welded titanium bikes from the USA, to welded aluminum and glued carbon frames made in Taiwan and the USA. I held on to a few of them, but many went on to friends while others went back to the professional teams that sponsored me to race. Until I was paid to ride a branded bike, I, naturally, rode a Mariposa. As I grew like a weed through my teen years, my father kept pace with my growth, building new frames every year or two, and then, when I started racing on the track, he built several specialized bikes (a points race bike, a low profile and a road bike) for each discipline.
The ten or so Mariposas I rode in the 80’s and 90’s are all still being used. The first, that my father built when I was 6, is ridden in central Toronto by a young boy. My nine year old son rides the bike I rode when I was his age. My mother rides the bike I rode when I was twelve. Matt Mansell, a former Bicyclesport Mariposa team rider and employee at the shop, is riding the frame I used when I was thirteen. A customer, who brought one of the race bikes I rode as a teenager in to the workshop last year for a tune up. Another Mariposa I rode the last two seasons before I turned professional with Saturn in 1998, is being ridden in Maryland. And, our family friend, Ian Austen, is currently riding a frame my father built for me in 1994. Most of the frames have been repainted, or at least touched up, and on most, the parts have been updated, but they all still get a lot of use.
Ian brought his bike in to the shop earlier this year to have a few dents filled and the frame repainted. Seeing the bike, brought back a slew of memories. In ’94 and ’95 I rode that bike hard and took it all over the world. It was made with Columbus EL, a lightweight oversize tubing. Originally, as I was riding for a US semi-pro team from Ohio that was sponsored by Bridgestone bicycles, the frame was painted with their colours with the Bridgestone decals—I had nothing against Bridgestone, a Japanese company who made good steel frames, but I wanted to ride a bike that my father built that I knew fit me and handled well.
Michael Barry racing on his Mariposa in 1994 with Bridgestone decals
The following season I changed teams and it was painted red and white with a Mariposa decal. The bicycle carried me to the Commonwealth Games in Victoria, through the Tour of Avenir, a ten day Tour de France for riders under 25, and to dozens of victories. On that bike, I realized I could make a living racing.
Michael (in the middle in red) racing on his Mariposa at the Killington Stage Race in 1994
While I raced in France in 1996, the team was sponsored by Specialized so I wasn’t allowed to ride the bike. It was used by a local junior, Brian Turner, for a season or two. Scratched badly from several seasons of hard racing and banged up from a few good crashes, it was repainted in blue and silver. Ian has ridden it since then. Of all the bikes I rode, this was one of my favourites. When I sat on that bike, and rode all day, dug in deep on a climb, tucked low in the crosswind, or as I sprinted out of a corner towards the line in a criterium, if felt like a seamless extension of my body. The frame handled beautifully and was lightweight for a steel bike of the period. In 2016, Ian was still racing on that bike.
I try not to become attached to many of my bikes, or for that matter, material objects, but a good bike, that fits well, is hard to let go. Seeing my son ride my old bike, after dozens of other kids have ridden it through the years, gives me joy. I rode all those bikes a lot and they became scratched and dented from the journeys they took me on. From childhood to adulthood they helped mark my life and, I hope, they will continue to be ridden often for many more years. A good bike should develop a great storyline.
The Old EL Mariposa By Ian Austen
When I came to own Michael’s EL frame is something I no longer remember. But I distinctly recall Mike pulling it down from a dusty rafter. The blue paint job, which was jobbed out at a time when Mariposa lacked a paint booth, was a bit indifferent. But the frame itself was something of wonder: light, stiff and beautiful in the way that only a frame in which everything is correct can be. Its connection to Michael further enhanced its appeal.
Eventually I succumbed to peer pressure and went through a series of non-steel frames. It was a series because three of them broke and were replaced under warranty. Meanwhile, the Mariposa gained clip-on bars, a bigger chain ring and a rear disc wheel and a few other things to become the bike I used at the Thursday night time trial series in Ottawa where I live.
When Michael returned to Canada, I thought that he should reclaim the frame as I knew it was one of his favorites. But he gracefully declined saying that he wanted to build his own.
I finally came to my senses and the EL Mariposa again became my primary road bike this year after getting new paint and some minor repairs. I won’t preach about steel frames other than to say that I don’t know why I went down that other path.
Today the frame has some touches which probably wouldn’t be approved of by Mike. The crankset and seatpost are both carbon mainly because I got them at good prices. I’m using oversized handlebars and an A-head style stem with a quill adapter. Their improved stiffness improves cornering and descending. At least I think so but, again, I’m not sure that Mike agrees.
After all this time, it’s still a privilege to ride a bike with such history, and a bike which should continue to serve me for many years to come.
Michael Barry
_________________________________________________________________________________
Since retiring Michael has been building handmade custom steel bikes from his workshop in Toronto.
www.mariposabicycles.ca
0 notes