Speedy Rodriguez

 I long time ago I met my friend Ken Yokanovich at Trans Iowa. Throughout the years we have stayed in contact but have not been able to see eachother because of life. So this past winter around the month of February Ken decided to come down to Chicago to sell off some really nice bike parts at the Chicago Bike Swap. 

We met there and did a lot of catching up between Ken making sales on some primo vintage parts. He had forwarned me that he was gonna sell this custom Rodriguez and knowing that im a Single Speed Crack he was sure it would be perfect. 

The frame is custom made with lugs. It is 130rear spacing, 100 front, 1" headset quill, 27.2 seatpost and a threaded bottom bracket. I love that it has 3 bottle mounts. This is a bike that will keep morphing until I get it just right. Yesterday I installed a  Velo Orange setback seatpost. That's in order to get my mandatory 9.5cm setback. Next up Ken is sending a new headset and some Nitto Noodle bars. Still looking for a 120mm Nitto Technomic stem. 

Once I get the fit issues ironed out I will be switching to a more reliable square tape crank. I'm currently rolling on Shimano 105 cranks in 172.5mm length, with a 44 tooth Surly Stainless ring. 

Front wheel is an Ultegra hub on Open Pro Mavic rim, rear a White industries 19tooth freewheel on a  White Industries hub on Velocity Deep V rim. Brakes are long reach Tektros run moto style with one cyclocross lever for the front brake. 

Saddle is San Marco Regal. Current bars are Nitto made Specialized , so is the stem. Tektro levers. 

Currently running some big flat pedals due to a severely irritated Morton's. Neuroma. 

But we keep riding!

Ari  

Patiently Waiting

 

Waiting for that day when my Single speed that im working on will be dialed. Waiting on that day when there won't be a chill in the air. Maybe even team up with an old friend and go for a real long ride without any stresses or commitments to run home to. My friend Jay is shipping me something that will help with all this project. The Rivendell Quickbeam above needs a refresh. But there is another candidate that is also suitable with some minor changes. Toying between 42x18 and 44x19. The differences are minimal but have long term consecuences. WE will see. 

Ari 

Don't be tricked

 IT's been a rollercoaster March around here. I've enjoyed being outside everyday so far for the month. Just the other day the skies were blue and it encouraged a lot of people to start thinking about their bikes. We got a bunch of repairs in and sold a fair amount of bicycles. Then the bottom dropped out with intense, flooding, rain. Tornadoes, storms and then cold wind and snow dominated in the past couple days. The Robins are confused and wondering how they are going to find any worms. 

The few crocus' that sprang up got buried in freezing snow. But one thing has not wavered. The mourning dove that nested atop our little hose house is here again. Rain, shine, snow, wind she is already sitting there because she is on a mission. A good lesson to learn from such a gentle creature. I put all my winter gear on, threw on a clipon fender and rode to work. If the Robins and Mourning Doves can be out there so can I. Winter is not over in the midwest and I'm alright with that. 

thanks for reading, 

Ari

Lots of this on my way to work this morning. Ducks were in heaven! 

The Miyata Ridge Runner 1987

My friend Joe told me he had this frame and did not want it since it was too big for him. I toyed with the idea of building it up and after searching the depths of my garage I started to unearth old stuff I hadn't seen in years. Of note was the Mavic 26.8mm seatpost, XTR cantilevers for the front, later a nice SR triple crankset and so on. I have started building it and I will continue to post more photos as they come along. I will be looking for recommendations for a smoother pattern tire in 26". Of note and worthy of the money is the 1" quill stem from Velo Orange. IT's one of the few stems that has a 31.8mm handlebar clamp diameter. Plus it as a long quill to jack up the bars with frames that have short headtubes. It will be interesting to ride this bike with such a long wheelbase , and a triple butted, lugged steel frame. I think its gonna be a good one.