So I acquired another bike today. This time it was* a late ’80s Trek 400. This behemoth measures in with a towering 64 cm frame. Those are 700c wheels, and that head tube is about 8″ long. The bright red paint is in pretty nice shape, and the bike is in excellent condition overall. The drive train consists of full Suntour Edge, with Biopace like chainrings. But, the Trek 400 has already been passed off to Klunk. As much as I want to ride a 64 cm frame, I had to pass it along.

Other news:
I decided the saddle on the singlespeed really needed to be tan, camel actually. The natural cork bar tape really clashed with the black vinyl saddle, but no more. In case you were wondering how I came to this decision: after a few shots of Turkish coffee, some regular coffee, and finally a little homemade thirteen year old Slovak pear brandy (we had some friends over for dinner), I had a shocking and profound epiphany. The thought of a tan/brown seat had crossed my mind earlier, but I really didn’t want to sacrifice a nice Brooks saddle (or the requisite cash) to the elements and sitting in the rain all day. So, after the brandy I realized I still have a stash of SEM Camel vinyl paint left over from my old ’61 VW bus. I quickly unbolted the saddle, removed the faux carbon fiber bits, slapped up a quick masking job, and turned my Terry Fly CrMo saddle into this beauty:

Better-late-than-never update — 19.2 miles of fun:

Date: 2006.07.08
Time: 3:30 PM
Conditions: 85° F, a little warm
Mileage: 19.2
Time: 1:04
Average Speed: 18.0 MPH

I’ve been busy. A weekend in Ohio, a few days in DC, back to Missouri for a day, and now I’m in Colorado. I missed the last week and a half of riding in June, but July is off to a good start.

June Summary
Total distance (June): 183.07 miles
Total distance (Cumulative): 685.43 miles
Total time (Cumulative): 57 hours, 31 minutes

Eric and I have ridden the last three days on several trails around Denver, CO. Some of the trails we have ridden so far have been the Colorado Trail (via Waterton Canyon), the Bear Creek Trail, and a few laps on the Betasso Preserve Loop. We may ride tomorrow (the 4th), but we’ll see. The total for this trip is about 43 miles and four and a half hours.

For a more entertaining account of the trip check out Eric’s blog.

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.