I loved commuting a lot on the Pink Faggin final week that I did it once more yesterday:
This group of individuals ready for the sunshine is an ideal illustration of recent day New York Metropolis “bicycle” visitors:
Of the 4 of us, solely 50% are pedaling beneath our personal energy, 25% are utilizing an electrical motor, and the opposite 25% is like, “Fuck it, I’m burning gasoline.”
Additionally, of the 25% of motorbike visitors that’s electrified, I’d say 25% of them are portaging small canines:
Anyway, the P.F. is a whole lot of enjoyable to trip within the metropolis, however there’s just one actual downside with it–and it’s not that it’s in poor health suited to dog-portaging:
No, the issue is that the handlebars aren’t significantly snug. They give the impression of being good, they’re slender sufficient to simply make your approach via visitors, they usually’re simply tremendous for shorter journeys. Nevertheless, at this level in my life I crave backsweep, and after awhile the kinda-swept-but-not-swept-enough place of those bars (coupled with the low-ish place) begins to trouble my palms only a bit.
On the similar time, I’ve additionally been pondering recently that it’s time to go just a little shorter on the stem on the Homer:
After I first acquired the bike I used to be utilizing bars with a number of sweep, however these bars are the alternative and have an unusually lengthy high portion which is kind of snug but additionally places the hoods approach on the market. So not too long ago it occurred to me that I might resolve each issues without delay, by switching the bars on the P.F. after which stealing the stem for the Homer. This morning I acquired proper to work:
Right here is “new” bar (actually an previous one from my handlebar stash), which as soon as upon a time Rivendell used to promote because the “Dove Bar,” and which it seems like Soma nonetheless carries:
It’s a slender bar meant for city using, and I imagine Rivendell stopped promoting it as a result of it’s not heat-treated they usually didn’t need individuals getting too rowdy with them or going off-road or no matter, however don’t quote me on that as a result of possibly I’m remembering unsuitable. Anyway, I’m not the rowdy type and I’ve solely ever used it for its supposed goal, and I’ve at all times favored it very a lot for comfy-yet-sporty metropolis bikes:
They’re not an excessive amount of wider than the opposite bars, both, which meant that not solely might I maintain slithering via visitors, however I additionally wouldn’t have to alter cables:
I additionally had an ideal quill stem to switch the one I’d be stealing for the Homer–just a bit bit longer to offset that additional sweep a bit:
Due to the bolt-on grips and the very fact I didn’t want to alter cables, I accomplished the swap very quickly, and whereas I solely rode it up and down the road it felt like a giant enchancment:
See, it’s all about that sweep:
Subsequent I turned my consideration to the Homer:
This too would have been a easy operation if I’d been coping with open-face stems, however of I wasn’t, so I needed to unwrap half the bar and fully undo the entrance shifter.
The stem I stole off the P.F. was lots shorter than the one on the Homer, however I figured it could nonetheless give me sufficient top–and extra importantly web me some critical weight financial savings!
Simply kidding:
Oh, in the event you’re questioning concerning the tape on the stem, I’ve a bizarre factor about marking quill stem and seatpost top, don’t fear your self about it.
There’s one thing unsettling about deconstructing a cockpit–like cleansing a sink entice, you hope all the things will return collectively and that you simply gained’t need to run to the shop for something. Happily the operation went pretty easily:
Whereas I did want to make use of a brand new entrance derailleur cable, I even managed to reuse the already-reused bar tape! All the things felt nice on the take a look at trip, too, and right here you may see that lengthy high portion I discussed earlier:
Along with the bars, I additionally made a pair different adjustments:
Now that the Homer’s doing critical commuter responsibility a plastic saddle appeared like much less of a trouble, although after all if I wind up lacking the Brooks I’ll put it again. I additionally modified the pedals only for the hell of it; I really like the unique pedals, however I used to be additionally curious to see how the bike feels with a much bigger platform. This too could also be a short-lived change, if solely as a result of I’m unsure concerning the colour, although it may also not be a nasty thought to place the unique pedals on the P.F.
A lot to consider.
