The guys at Mike's Bikes recently finished my new street rod. Here's a bigger pic. I just snapped a couple of pictures of it in the garden, now turning autumnal after a hard frost last night. The bike's basically made up of old―but nice―stuff that needed to come together in some new form. The Rodriguez frame was made in Seattle and has a beautiful hand-painted rainbow color scheme that uses 10 or 12 metalic colors. You either love it, or, if you're a Minnesotan, stare blankly and say: “That's diff-ernt.”
It's got an older gray Shimano Ultegra drivetrain and brakes, and has been stripped down to a single gear. Plus retro handlebars. I put on my old super-light red-as-hell Mavic Helium wheels. It's peppy and fun for burning around town toward the end of the day when you don't want to get into road bike high drag. On seeing it Elizabeth asked: “Now what?” To which I blurted out: “It's a bike for getting cappuchino.” So I guess that's it.
You don't really know me unless you know that I COULD do this: Delivery Bike Racing in Manhattan. [Have patience, this takes a while to load into your browser window.]
Nice ride! Here in Manhatan I am surprised by the number of single speed track bikes around, all the bike messengers have them and many others too...were there ever that many track racers to buy them all new before they ended on the streets on NY? Actually, there's a new bike shop here in the E. Village that is only track bikes for urban use--go figure.
Posted by: Ben Shapiro | 02 October 2004 at 04:17 PM
Interesting blog; I'll add you to my fav's list.
Let's hear it for old bikes! My personal ride is a Nishiki Superbe which I bought new in 1980, and built my own wheels for. I previously owned a 1964 Legnago Olympiad Recorde. I'm rebuilding a late-'70s PX-10 mixte, which my customer's recently deceased husband custom built for her when they were courting.
Posted by: Kevin L. Connors | 03 October 2004 at 01:38 AM
Sweeet wheels!
Posted by: Chuck Olsen | 08 October 2004 at 07:56 PM
You'd think he'd manage to get some brakes for his commuting bike first, wouldn't you?
I'm jealous. Road bikes go fast. I want one.
Posted by: James Vivian | 09 October 2004 at 09:13 AM