Jasper Bike, v0.9

OK, enough of the retroactive posts. Let's just catch all the way up, shall we?

TA (almost) DA!!

Fate shined on me one day when I my local LBS, Turin in Evanston, went belly up, and I stumbled across a Linus porteur rack, or most of one, on the odds-and-ends closeout table.

$25.00Are you kidding me?!?!?

OK, sure, it's missing parts. Boo-frickin'-hoo. I can talk to the fine folks at Linus and get replacements. It goes on their website for $130! Uh, yeah, I'll take it. Nothing makes me happier than a deal that's shiny!

Another Christmas rolled around, with another gift card, and it was time for Velo Orange stainless steel fenders and chain guard, and new Panaracer tires. Metal fenders are supposed to be a bear to install, so kudos to the fine folks at VO. Installation was a breeze, and the leather washers keep them from rattling beautifully.

Did I mention they're shiny?

O, so shiny. CAW!! CAW!!

Now we're getting somewhere....

Another birthday rolled around, and it was time to tackle the gearing. The old Shimano Altus 7 speed cassette and hub had seen much better days. Many of them. A long time ago. Handspun makes a lovely rear wheel that hit (almost) all the buttons. Shimano Alfine IGH on a reflective Velocity Dyad rim. Tasty. Just the ticket for a gentleman's city bike. Too bad they used black spokes. Blerg. Shiny is more better.

But still, I have to admit the non-machined sidewall works perfectly with no rear brake. Those happy coincidences are the design gods nudging you. Ignore them at your peril. Add on a Surly Singulator, (a beautiful piece of engineering, BTW) and we have us a brand spankin' new drive train, folks.

Oops. Hold on...

The Suntour barcon doesn't have enough travel to shift it. If you want a barcon (and we do), you need to get yourself a JTek shifter. 

Seriously, JTek makes some very useful, niche products. They're extremely well engineered. But there ain't an industrial designer anywhere near their R&D department. But ugly, but it will have to do.

What else...

Black elk leather bar wraps from Velo Orange. Soooo lux. And a black leather wrap for the top tube while we're at it. That sucker is seriously beat up. 

A Pletscher ESGE double leg kickstand to keep it upright.

And the best bell ever made, Crane's brass Suzu. Lovey, never ending tone. 

Time for some miles.