Can you believe I’m still fucking around with this thing?
I thought I was done, and I told myself I’d stop messing with it, but the cover of the saddle I had on there was just too worn to deal with, so I put on another one, then in messing with the saddle height as I rode I realized the seatpost was just a bit too short, so I changed it for another one…
The upshot of all this is that I still haven’t had a ride on the ‘Noner during which I wasn’t distracted by something that required futzing, and at this point I’ve spent so much time tweaking it that I can’t decide whether this means I should see it through and keep it for the rest of my life or get rid of it immediately.
Meanwhile, I’ve also got Project Spinergy to deal with, because what could be a better use of the little time I have left after obsessing over the ‘Noner than exploring the nuances and inner workings of an old pair of race wheels?
As the Classic Cycle Old Crap Test Pilot, you may get the sense that I’m just floating around alone in space, but upon sending me the Spinergys, Paul informed me that he’d also be “running simulations on the ground” by riding a pair of the ol’ Squirrel Slicers himself. So upon reading about the issues I was having he sent me the following communication:
Having finally recovered enough from my recent altercation with the ‘Noner’s rear hub to contemplate dealing with cone wrenches and bearings again, I collected the items Paul had enumerated and got to work:
Though before I got started I noticed another chip in the rear wheel’s Death Blades:
Eh, it’s just a little splintering, I’m sure it’ll be fine.
Anyway, carefully I followed the instructions, and I was successful in removing the lock nut and cone:
By the way, see the threads on the freehub body? Those are for a Uniglide cassette. That’s how old these things are.
Next I tapped out the axle:
And finally I tightened the freehub body…which was already tight after all:
So it was all for naught, but fortunately it was an extremely simple procedure, and I only had to crawl around on the floor after one ball bearing, which is a record for me.
But where does this leave Project Spinergy? The ostensible purpose of course is to pit them against their mortal enemy, the Rolfs:
However, the fact is there’s really no contest. Like any retrogrouch I’m leery of the paucity of spokes on the Rolfers:
However, so far I haven’t had any inkling of a problem with them, aesthetically they suit the bike, they run smoothly, and they’re nice and light to boot. (I’m not even remotely a weight weenie, but on a bike like this you might as well go with it.) Meanwhile, the Spinergys are kinda heavy, the bearings on the front are worn, the rear wheel is mysteriously off-center, and while the Rolfs may not have many spokes, the Spinergys don’t have any spokes at all. (Well, technically the eight fraying crabon blades are spokes, but retrogrouches only recognize wire spokes.) Really, it doesn’t seem terribly sportsmanlike to compare the two, and it’s less a shootout than it is an execution.
Moreover, the LeMond is just too damn nice for those tired old Spinergys. Yes, it’s from 2003, but it’s in perfect condition and might as well be a new bike. No, the ideal test-cycle for the Spinergys is a bike that’s also showing it’s age; a bike with horizontal dropouts to compensate for the wonky dish, and with friction shifting so it doesn’t matter if the hub is off-center; a “rat rod,” if you will, and one that’s already somewhat aesthetically challenged so that the Spinergys won’t detract from it. Do I have such a bike? Why yes, I most certainly do:
The rear wheel went in with minimal fuss:
And call me crazy but…aesthetically it kinda works?
I really do think they look much better on the Faggin than they do on the LeMond. It’s like the bike is wearing a pair of stiletto heels. She’s a Mean Faggin.
If nothing else, it’s truly earned this sticker:
Those squirrels had better watch out.
