I suppose it’s Metal Week right here on Bike Snob NYC, and one cause to go along with the magnetic possibility when selecting a body is to not tempt the disembodied hand of destiny:
Think about the Faggin:
It’s been in our household for so long as I’ve been scripting this weblog, which is an astonishing 17 years. (I imply writing a weblog for 17 years is astonishing, not hanging onto a motorbike for 17 years.) Additionally, who is aware of how the body was handled earlier than that, because it definitely regarded its age after which some once we bought it. Now possibly I’m tempting the disembodied hand of destiny [see above] by saying this, however whereas I do know the Faggin might definitely Fa-fail at any level, it’s most likely not going to take action in a scary manner. (Hey, I used to race bikes, I’ve seen individuals crash and go away a race carrying two halves of a crabon bike. Additionally, I don’t know if it’s potential for a pink bike to be scary in any circumstance.)
Talking of the Faggin, the Faggindex is sort of excessive. May it’s that my current posts about it have inflated their worth? Nearly definitely not–as biking’s preeminent de-influencer, individuals exit of their technique to do the alternative of no matter it’s I’m doing. Nonetheless, what else might clarify these costs?
It’s a pleasant bike, however $2,500?
After all, you might save your self some huge cash by getting a tiny body with Shimano 600 elements:
Simply kidding!
Aw, fuck it, I’m getting the Faggin humorous bike:
In comparison with that little man it’s an absolute discount:
And clearly none of these Faggini have the character of this one:
And no, I’m not making an attempt to fluff you for a sale. In actual fact I’m forbidden to promote this bicycle because the body has sentimental worth and is part of our household historical past. For this reason I’ve returned it to common service and am lavishing mechanical consideration on it.
Talking of metal bikes, and lavishing mechanical consideration, my beloved Milwaukee in fact comes from valued longtime sponsor Ben’s Cycles, who’ve graciously assisted me in updating my wheel state of affairs:
The edges are Velocity A23s:
And the hubs are Shimano 105:
These items just isn’t even remotely unique, and that’s precisely how I prefer it.
Upon receipt they went proper onto the Milwaukee:
I’d been utilizing a Campagnolo hub, which is type of ridiculous because it limits you to Campagnolo (or I suppose additionally Miche) cassettes, however now between the Shimano hub and the friction shifter my cassette choices are virtually limitless:
Plus I nonetheless get the benefit from the perverse thrill of blending Shimano and Campagnolo:
I may also remind you that derailleur was runner-up within the Basic Cycle twenty first Century Friction Shifter Shootout, so give it the respect it deserves.
The A23s are wider than the Open Execs I used to be utilizing, and are a very good match with the 35mm tires:
Which the Milwaukee clears with room to spare:
Even on the medium-reach brake caliper:
And, I additionally bought a second similar pair of wheels, which I’ve now lavished upon the Faggin:
Sure, silver spokes would look higher, however no matter.
The wheels I’d been utilizing on there earlier than had been over 20 years previous; I keep in mind shopping for them used and going out to Lengthy Island on my bike to choose them up after work. (Are you able to think about I as soon as had a bike and a job? I used to be a very completely different particular person.) I’d not too long ago changed the freehub physique, and whereas the operation was successful, it wasn’t the right physique for the hub, and for causes I don’t fairly perceive I needed to do all types of axle spacer shenanigans and the cassette wound up fairly far inboard. (Why an 11-speed freehub physique on a 9-speed hub strikes the cassette inboard I don’t know.) Anyway all of it labored simply advantageous, however the chainline’s a lot better now, plus the edges aren’t frighteningly concave just like the previous ones had been:
If nothing else, one good cause to trip a metal bike is that you should utilize just about no matter hub spacing you need. Perhaps I’ll even get some disc brake tabs placed on there. Then the bike shall be completely future-proof.
