NYC Journal

I think my Litespeed (Basso branded) dates back to 1992. It was about 1995 when the Rock Shox Judy SL was released that I had basically a replacement frame because I cracked a weld at the head tube.

My first frame did not feature oversized tubing for stiffness. This frame flexed a lot, and evidently this flexing along with hard use fatigued the weld.

The replacement actually reused my original rear triangle, but the front triangle was replaced with oversized tubing. This frame displayed stiffness.

Today I have this bike built out as a gravel bike. It is a very nice ride and is all retro.

Cal
 
On a bike binge. Spent the afternoon doing chores, but I got the steel IBIS set up with a 20-16T for a 30 inch gear (24 inch rear wheel) as a trials bike.

Spent some time trying 2.35 wide tires, but I settled with a 24x2.1 on the rear and a 26x2.25 on the front. AJ gifted me some trials pads, and I already have a set on the rear. I think I will set up the fronts with trials pads also.

Weighs in at 21 1/2 pounds with this simple drivetrain, although the “Trials Guard” is a big piece of machined aluminum that is also the spider for the chainring. Not a “skinny-puppy.”

The wheels have Sun Ryhno lite welded rims. Straight gauge spokes and are kinda bombproof.

I lowered the seat a bit, something I took notice on AJ’s utility bike, a rigid Litespeed that closely resembles my repaired Litespeed with slight differences. I had the height set tall like on a road bike, but the slightly lowered seat makes the bike much more agile and balanced. Of course the CG is now lower.

Had a lot of fun just in my dead end.

I also mounted the new wheels AJ built on the IBIS Alibi frame. WOW what a cool looking bike with Sun Rhyno Lite rims that are polished for bling. The geometry of the Alibi seems to mirror my Yo Eddy, and that is a great thing.

Cal
 
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Looking forward to the Diane Arbus show tomorrow.

Like guitars it seems with cameras the favorite is the one in your hands.

Tomorrow I will wear my SL2 rigged with my APO 35 Cron and set up for shooting the square. In the VF’er I see the square, but the full 48 MP is recorded. The square is a crop so I loose a third or 16 MP, but the square image is still 32 MP.

The cool thing is it is similar to my Plaubel 69W in that I have either rise or shift for perspective control. In Light Room it is EZ-PZ to reframe the square.

The 35mm FOV when shooting the square becomes a normal lense.

I love-love the rendering of the APO Cron shot wide open. Sharp with this smooth transition to OOF. Pretty much unless you require DOF no reason not to shoot F 2.0.

Then the SL2 has image stabilization.

What is not to love?

I guess I forgot that this rig is kinda big and heavy, but that is part of my style.

I joke, a free gym membership.

Cal
 
When I built my Raleigh Mountain Trials, the Rhyno lite rims were out of stock all over in 24", so I went with Ryde Andra 40s which are considered the absolute strongest clincher/rim brakes rims available by any company, but they are also some of the heaviest. The wheels I built with double butted spokes to help with a few grams of weight and give the wheels resiliency with a tiny bit of flexibility. That bike is killer but I wish I could drop some weight from the wheels. They aren't bad, but I'm used to lighter rotating mass, so when riding it, I need to conserve my energy and use terrain to help moving the big gyros I stead of fighting it with my handlebars. It is a fun bike that can climb up whatever I put in front of it, the only limit is my own strength and technique. I also built it with mostly black components partially out of the finish which was available in the rims and new cantilevers, and partially as a theme with a black matching Nitto trials handlebar. Part of me still wants to stick a set of Magura HS-33 hydraulics on, but I would have true canti studs added to the seat stays instead of mounting them in the current location where the rollercam brakes is. Maybe I'll just find another frame instead.
Phil
 
I stockpiled Answer Pinnacle Pro 24 inch BMX racing rims. These are 36 hole.

I also have mucho Ryhno Lite 24 inch rims. Smaller diameter wheels are mucho strong. Using straight gauge spokes is mucho overkill.

On the IBIS Mountain Trials bikes I quickly learned that they climb well and accelerate fast. Less rotating mass, and that includes the tire.

Wheelbase is UBER short: 39 1/2 inches on the steel IBIS; and 40 inches on the Ti IBIS. The steel IBIS has horizontal dropouts though…

Cal
 
Had to search high and low for the second set of trial brake pads. Very soft rubber backed by a thick and rigid aluminum backing.

Evidently my appointment for radiation treatment got rescheduled to the afternoon. A MD has to be on hand for these procedures. The same for the chemical castration injection. Regulations…

Cal
 
Completed the second week of radiation treatment. Only 6 more weeks to go, but there goes my summer. I can see how the fatigue builds up. Kills my morning, and then there’s not much left in me for the rest of the day.

“Maggie” is making the most out of the most pleasant weather.

The trials brake pads are a no-go on the steel IBIS front brakes. Geometry constraints and not enough adjustment allowed. Oh-well.

Glad I got my ticket for tomorrow’s Diane Arbus show. The 450 prints were printed by the only person authorized to do so. I was expecting something else…

Cal
 
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