Tag Archives: tarck

53cm Origin8 Del Pasado

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delpasado_frontangleDS1

I just finished up this new fixed-gear, based on Origin8’s Del Pasado track frame.  The Del Pasado is a true urban / street frame, built of sturdy chromo-steel and with comparatively relaxed geometry (not much toe overlap) and mounting points for racks and fenders.  The front wheel is an Aerospoke and the rear is a Velocity Deep-V with an IRO fix/fix hub.  The crankset is a Suntour that I polished up, with matching Origin8 track pedals and Soma double-gate toe clips.  Race face stem, Tektro front brake & cross lever, and a Vitesse saddle.

I took the Del Pasado for a spin last night and it is a very easy rider; the geometry gives you a stable base and the thick chainstays deliver a smooth ride on rough streets.  With a set of riser bars, this would also make a good trick rider.  The Del Pasado frame is one of the best deals around right now (selling on eBay for around $180 for the frame & fork, with shipping) and I think my build shows that you can make a pretty sweet bike out of it.

More pictures after the jump… Continue reading →

Alien Update

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alien_new_DS

I finished this build at the end of September, showcasing  it in this post.  However, I very quickly ran into a bunch of problems when I started riding it.  The Major Taylor handlebars were uncomfortable, so I replaced them with a set of bullhorns I made.  Then the vintage Brooks leather saddle literally ripped in half – I guess the leather had not been treated well and had dry rot.  I swapped it out with a 1970’s leather Concor Laser saddle.   A few weeks later, the 1930’s adjustable stem I was using cracked!   I located a more robust 1970’s-era 3TTT adjustable stem (a “Record Regolabile” according to Velobase.org) to replace it.  I also added Brooks leather bar tape to the bullhorns and top tube, and changed the gearing to a more mellow 47 / 17.

So here is the updated version of the Alien, which is far more comfortable and safer to ride, while still retaining a nice vintage-inspired look.  Check out more pics after the jump…

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Review: Casco Attack Helmet

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Update (September 14th, 2012) – I’ve had this helmet nearly three years now and it’s still going strong.  It was stolen from me in a bar in 2010, and then resurfaced on Craigslist three months later – suffice to say I paid the thief a visit and reclaimed my beloved helmet!

The exterior is pretty scratched up and the leather has been stained very dark from sweat, but it’s structurally sound and quite comfortable.  I replaced the chin strap last year as the originals were a bit short (or maybe my face got fatter?  I hope not!)  To answer some of the size questions, the interior measurements of the helmet are 17cm at its widest point, and 20cm from the front of the helmet to the rear.  I wear it daily, except in the winter, when I wear a Casco E-Motion Cruiser helmet.  I’ll try to post a review of that one soon.

casco_attack_330

Perhaps you’ve heard of the Casco Attack before, having attracted press as the helmet of choice for Olympic cyclist Theo Bos and getting top style points in many blogs and forums.  I recently decided to treat myself to an early Christmas and bought one through Ebay UK.  While I am not a professional cyclist, I commute daily around NYC by bike as well as taking part in century rides, and day tours whenever I can.  I wanted a helmet that would be comfortable and stylish enough for me to happily wear every day.  I justified the expense by reasoning that a head injury would cost me a lot more than the $350 price tag of this helmet.

I’ve been wearing it now for about a month – read on for my review and additional pictures.

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Chrome Bianchi Pista

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chr-pista_frontangle2

This all-chrome 2007 53cm Bianchi Pista is a recent build of mine, having gotten a good deal on the frame.  I added a brand-new red Alex R500 wheelset with matching hubs, a matching 3TTT Mutant stem, and San Marco saddle.   Matchy-matchy!  It has a black Sugino messenger crankset and bottom bracket, and is pictured with MKS GR-9 pedals with Soma Oppy XX double clips and Freeman Transport leather double straps.  The ergo drop bars are very comfortable (I used to have them on my Fuji Track Pro) with a Dia-Comp Shot brake lever and Tektro front caliper.

I’m stuck right now between selling this bike for some quick cash or riding it as a winter snow bike.  It would make a good winter bike, but it’s also so pretty and shiny that I don’t want to dirty it up.  Decisions, decisions…  check out more pictures after the jump!

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New Fuji Track Pro pictures

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photo by CyclingWMD

photo by CyclingWMD

Last Sunday we had some warm weather and I rode with a couple buddies from the NYC Fixed.gr forum out to Floyd Bennett field and Jacob Riis beach.  There was a spectacular sunset at the beach and I asked CyclingWMD to take some “bike porn” pictures of my Fuji Track Pro.  It’s evolved a bit since I last posted about it: I’ve switched to Syntace bullhorn bars, clipless Shimano pedals, and a black Dura-Ace 47T chainring.  And I added a carbon HED3 Tri-spoke front wheel.  This bike is so fast and comfortable now, having evolved into exactly the right fit for me and a joy to ride.

photo by CyclingWMD

photo by CyclingWMD

Bianchi “What You Want Ho” Pista

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sideangle_NDS_pista

Here’s a build I threw together the other day from parts I had around the house.  It’s a 2007 Bianchi Pista frame that was powdercoated red.  I added a Sugino Messenger crankset, BMX platform pedals with clips and doubles traps, a brown leather Concor Max saddle, flat bars w/ Oury grips, and a flip-flop wheelset.  I found a nice old Shimano side-pull caliper brake for the front as well.  The NYC “pistadex” took a nose dive this morning when I sold it for $310.

sideangle_DS_pista

Alien 53cm fixed-gear custom build

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I have waited nearly a year to build this bike: I first ordered the frame from Alien Bikes as part of a group buy last October, receiving it last May.  Despite the ridiculous wait, the frame is gorgeous and well-made, especially considering the low $350 pricetag for a hand-made lugged steel frame.  I used wire brushes to remove most of the phosphate coating from the tubes, exposing the raw steel and bright gold flux around the lugs.   The inspiration for this build is a classic Italian racer, something that looks like a throwback to the 1940’s or 50’s, but built from a mix of affordable modern and vintage parts.

Click “Read More” to see a hi-res gallery pf photos.

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