The Fire Ant Gazette - A Midland, Texas Blog

My New Old Bike
Category: Cycling/Running/Fitness...
Posted Sunday, October 22, 2006 at 11:22 AM [GMT-6]

Meet my new bike:

It's a 1989 Cannondale RM900, aka the Red Shred (the font used for the name looks very much like Mistral, by the way), an aluminum framed, non-suspension mountain bike sporting a mystifying white handlebar. This bike hasn't been ridden in five or six years, and wasn't ridden with any zest for several years before that. I've just rescued it from impending death by dry rot in our storage unit.

My plan is to turn it into a "city bike," a utilitarian vehicle to be used for running short errands or going places that aren't recumbent friendly. With 26"x2" slicks front and back, bar-ends, platform pedals, and a rear rack, it's a relatively comfortable way to travel.

N.B. - This should in no way imply that I'm contemplating a switch from recumbancy. In fact, after a few miles on the "new" bike, I was reminded of why I became 'bent in first place. While there's a lot to be said for the maneuverability of the conventional bicycle, the comfort issues are still paramount.

It's definitely showing its age, however. This won't mean anything to most of you, but it still has its original Bio-Pace chainrings. These are slightly ovalized front "gears" that theoretically transfer power better than conventional round chainrings, while being easier on your knees; Shimano spec'd them for mountain and touring bikes for a few years, but they never caught on. The bike is heavy, especially for an aluminum-framed model, but it's also bulletproof. There's just about nothing this side of insanity that will break it.

It needs a few things: the chain has a couple of dodgy links, and everything needs a shot of grease. I plan to change out the Shimano Deore rear derailleur for a Deore XT (why? because I have an XT that needs a home), and I'm looking at a pair of those Shimano pedals that have the nice platform on one side and the SPD-compatible clip-in mechanism on the other. I also want to get a "grocery bag pannier" like this Jand for light shopping trips.

Now, if I can just figure out how to mount a surround-sound speaker system for an iPod nano...

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Comments

You sound SO continental! Or at least, Coloradan.

Posted by: Phyllis at October 22, 2006 02:44 PM

Now, if I can just figure out how to mount a surround-sound speaker system for an iPod nano...

LOL. You mean they haven't made an attachment like that for bicycles?

Posted by: Rachel at October 22, 2006 07:12 PM

Phyllis, in other words, that makes me a Continental Dividian, which is like a Branch Davidian only taller and less dogmatic?

Rachel, I've no doubt that they make iPod mounts for bicycles, but getting the 12" sub-woofer in place is the challenge facing me. ;-)

Posted by: Eric at October 23, 2006 12:23 PM

I'm confused. Is this Muffy? Because I wouldn't be experimenting on a Cannondale if I were you. 8-}

Posted by: gwynne at October 23, 2006 12:39 PM

Rest assured -- there shall be no external flame applied to my trusty Cannondale, for any purpose whatsoever. For one thing, the frame is aluminum, which poses a whole different set of brazing challenges. For another, this is a perfectly good bicycle that just needs some component upgrades, which is what I'll be doing.

I guess the confusion is arising from the fact that I actually have TWO bike-related projects in progress at the same time. I'd like to be able to say that I'll be sure to clarify the situation in subsequent posts, but that's a promise I just can't keep. ;-)

Posted by: Eric at October 23, 2006 12:46 PM

Oh, by the way, Gwynne...you got a link in today's Midland paper, as a "recommended blog."

Sorry if that puts any pressure on you; if so, you'll have to take it up with Jimmy Patterson.

Posted by: Eric at October 23, 2006 12:47 PM

While there's a lot to be said for the maneuverability of the conventional bicycle, the comfort issues are still paramount.

Been there; swallowed the anti-inflammatories.

Posted by: Foo at October 23, 2006 03:47 PM

Aiyeeee! I've been "recommended???" Oh, that Jimmy's gonna get it! ;-)

Thanks for the clarification on the bikes...I'll rest easier now.

Posted by: gwynne at October 23, 2006 04:41 PM

Foo, I knew you'd grok the full meaning.

Gwynne, no pressure. Well, maybe some pressure. ;-)

Posted by: Eric at October 23, 2006 09:42 PM

Pulling out a Canondale ... following my lead, eh?

:-)

Posted by: Jeff at October 24, 2006 06:30 AM

I guess. This bike was actually the first of three 'dales we owned, the others being a tandem and a really nice road bike. Both went to other good homes in Midland.

Posted by: Eric at October 24, 2006 08:13 AM

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