Single Speed!
June 21, 2006 (AP)
The first day of summer — the first day of my single speed. My $2 Diamond Back 700c hybrid garage sale find has been transformed. This once mundane metallic maroon lump of a bike is now a mundane black and white single speed commuter.
This ride now sports a custom black and white color scheme, mustache handle bars decked with Shimano aero levers, natural cork bar tape, blinky light and a nice big horn. The drivetrain features Shimano 1980 something Exage 500 CX crank with UN-25 bottom bracket, 40 tooth chain ring and 16 tooth ACS freewheel, Shimano Deore XT 8 speed chain, and some SPD/platform pedals I scored free of charge. Braking is more or less accomplished by some very protruding early 80s cantilevers with rock-hard pads. Accessories complete the package with slick Planet Bike fenders, rear rack, and stylish blue milk crate.
The inaugural voyage of, wait, what is it? Does it have a name??? I shall call it Sterance. Anyway, the first commute for Sterance was today. It started off nice, in the 80s and a clear sky, at quarter to seven this morning. The ride home was overcast, wet and muddy; the fenders are worth their weight in the flimsy black plastic of which they are made. Sterance corners like a bread truck, and brakes like a ocean liner. What more could you ask?
Well, I’ll tell you what more you can ask. How does a Surly Jethro Tule sound? This combo 15mm box wrench and bottle opener is the perfect companion for Sterance. If you have a single speed you should check one of these out.
