Oh, Snap!

I was riding to work, yesterday, on icy, rutted streets, when I heard a "SNAP" sound as I went over the railroad tracks close to the lab. I looked around, only to see half of my rear fender sliding along behind me. I don't bolt the lower end of trhe fender to the frame, on the fixed gear mtb, because I

like to have it semi-quick-release.

I turned around and retrieved the piece of fender, then continued on to work.

This is what the remaining half of the fender looked like, when I got to work.

Later in the day, I decided to make a temporary repair to the fender, so that I would have it for the wet, slushy, ride home.

A little box tape, some copper wire and a wire twist-tie got the two pieces pieces mated up, pretty well.

Unfortunately, it works so well that I will probably never actually repair it, for real. I have a bad habit of leaving well enough alone, in cases like this...

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Another Scrambler Mod

Today, I made a new fast-idle (choke) knob to replace the skull, which got knocked off of the bike during a trail ride, last summer. Keeping it local...


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Swapping Parts

I finally decided, after a few rides, that my new 29er frame was just a bit taller than I wanted it to be. So, I called my sister up, and had her send me the 29er I had left at her house, which my nephew Sean rides. Sean is taller than I am, and I came up with a plan to swap the parts between our two frames, then send the newer, bigger frame back to him.

  Here is the new frame, with Sean's parts on it. Notice the relationship between the top tube/seat tube junction to the rear tire.

Here is the older frame, with my parts on it.  I have to admit that I am glad to have the frame back, because it has sentimental value, due to the fact that it was my first 29er.

Now, check out the relationship of the top tube/seat post junction to the rear tire on this frame.

The seat is at the same height, here, as it was on the other bike. You can see the insertion mark on the post, which shows the difference in the stand-over height between the two frames.

Now, I just need to get out and ride the darn thing!

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