Building Bikes

To this day one of the most exciting things is to plan out and build a bike. I don't know what it is, but there is something about scouring through parts and comparing different builds that just gets me flat out excited.

I also happen to be a numbers guy. So comparing weights, prices, price to weight ratios, and all that just makes for a good time. I currently am in the habit of using excel spreadsheets. They get kinda big. Ask Kyle or Rick.

As of right now I just finished building a fixed gear commuter. (Notice it is NOT a "fixie" but a "fixed gear". If it were a "fixie" a pair of girl jeans, a white belt, and cup holder for my soy latte would be prerequisite items to riding)

I've had the frame for a year. Its the Surly Traveler's Check. Basically a Cross Check frame with couplers so it can come apart and fit into a standard size suitcase, thus negating the need for over-sized luggage fees when traveling. I got it last year for my trip to San Francisco (oh, silly, its not what you think...) and have put it to good use since. I only have to fly with it like 20 more times to save enough money on baggage fees to justify the cost of the frame....

Anyway, I've had it kicking around the last year with spare parts on it, built up about half a dozen different ways, depending on what parts I needed from it. However, every bike needs an identity. The bike has horizontal drops in the back so late this summer I obtained a rear flip flop wheel, got some decent single speed cranks this fall, and just this last weekend finally built up a front wheel to complete the bike.

Granted I am going to pull half the parts back off next week when I fly home with it, but for now she's finally complete.