Thought Patterns
by Emanuel
It had to be done and I at last got around to it. Complete strip down of my beloved road bike from the defunct GT Team Lotto which I only got because of the bankruptcy of the brand in 2001. There’s no way I would have gotten such a nice bike without the failure of GT, so I guess I should be thankful for their downfall although it is quite interesting to read about how the GT Team Lotto came together 6 weeks (!) before the 1999 Tour. The Easton 6061 aluminum frame I have is the same frame the Team had and it feels great with a stiffness that is hard to beat. Throw on there an Ultegra group for everything with some Mavic Classic Pros and you’ve got a sweet ride.
I got my first road bike when I was in my teens and although it might not have been what I dreamed of at the time – a Bianchi with a Campagnolo groupo is what every kid wanted – it got me some good rides. I still remember my first bike cleats that would lock into the pedals over which you would strap down the leather. Crashing in those left you with no options as you were NOT getting out of your pedals. Viva clip-ins.
Anyhow, I’ve gutted my bike and changed all cables, given it a new chain and spent a lot of time getting its lost shine back. I’m impressed on how well my Ultegra groupo is standing the test of time. The most difficult to scrub off was actually old calcified sweat on the front derailleur and my break levers, most likely from my winter indoor spins and I wonder if that’s only happened to me or if anyone knows of a trick to clean this easily? I’ll be riding my bike like this for a short time and the next investment will be a new saddle, something stiffer so I can get more out of my accelerations and climbing. Yeah, I know, that will be the difference that will really push my performance over the top…
Comments are closed.
Guy
WHAT!! Enfin je peux voir ta bête! NICE!
Une bonne journée de mécano tu t’es parti la…
Guy
Emanuel
Yep, et c’est pas encore terminé…
noel krebs
I like the beautiful colors and the colorful care.
And the precious fact there is no fare.
The engine – internal combustion type – is personal-
and easy on the machine under there.
Emanuel
Many thanks for the beautifully expressed comments