A Glimpse Through The Fabric Of Space And Time – Bike Snob NYC

After a ride this weekend I looked at my phone and found dozens of strange images and videos on my phone:

At first I thought I must be picking up the signal from a rover on a distant planet:

But looking closer I discerned what appeared to be some terrestrial-looking trees:

Then I played one of the videos and realized I must have not have locked my phone before putting it back into my jersey pocket after taking a photo, and it had been shooting all this stuff right through the fabric:

I don’t know whether this is a testament to the power of today’s mobile phone cameras or the sorry state of my wardrobe.

Probably a little bit of both.

Anyway, here is the intentional photo I took before returning the phone to my pocket whereupon it began to freak out:

This photo is illustrative of the fact that early fall is an optimal time for the cycling of bicycles.

A good bike also helps:

“But where’s the lower half of the bike?,” you may be wondering.

Okay, don’t get mad.

“What did you do?,” you’re now asking sternly through clenched teeth.

Look, I’ll tell you, but you have to promise you don’t get mad.

“HOW THE HELL CAN I PROMISE TO GET MAD IF I DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU DID.”

Fine, whatever, here you go:

At this point your anger may have given way to profound disappointment:

And certainly I understand. Here’s what was on there before:

Not only was the silver (both in color and branding) square taper crank more in keeping with the bike’s aesthetics, but it was also a triple, netting me every gear I could possibly want. Furthermore, the disappearance of the triple from the modern bicycle is a great tragedy, and yet another symptom of the dumbing down of America and the world–a pathetic concession to the younger generations who are simply too lazy and stupid to operate a front derailleur.

Sorry, but it’s true.

So not only have I betrayed the triple, but I’ve also betrayed my own vow to myself to make no further changes to this bicycle, which as I confirmed over my end-of-summer vacation was (and I hate this expression, but I’ll use it anyway) “dialed:”

Nevertheless, like the woman who attempted to restore that Jesus painting, I can’t leave well enough alone:

And ever since receiving the most recent OM-1 prototype I’ve thought that it really belonged on the Roadini:

So I moved it over from the Platypus:

Replacing it with the earlier prototype that had been on there before:

And as always, this episode of “Idiot’s Workshop” has been brought to you by Dumonde lubricants:

Dumonde

Just Because You Suck, That Doesn’t Mean Your Lubricants Should Too

So in any case, I’d been wanting to move the derailleur over, and as I prepared to do so I couldn’t wondering how the Roadini would feel with a more streamlined drivetrain. I mean I already had the stuff, and it’s not like any of this is irreversible, so I figured what the hell, while I’m under the hood I might as well try it out:

It’s possible I may revert to the triple, especially if I vacation with the bike again next year, but in the meantime it works well. Obviously the front derailleur requires less trimming, and with the larger rear cassette I also put on there I still have a decently low gear. And while I’m certainly not one to fuss over Q-factor, I don’t mind the narrower one on the double.

As for the questionable aesthetics of the crank, while it may be at odds with the timeless luggery of the Roadini, I personally don’t really mind it. Also, it’s far from the most confused Roadini out there:

I have no connection whatsoever with the seller, I just stumbled upon it and was fascinated. And while it may be polarizing, I appreciate it as an example of how there’s nothing stopping you from putting together a Rivendell any way you want. There’s no law that you have to follow the playbook or try to copy Ultraromance.

Speaking of Rivendells, I see the Charlie Gallop is now available for preorder:

Maybe we’ll see one with SRAM Red AXS.