One good thing about having a dozen or so bicycles in the garage, if you’re a lazy bastard, is that maintenance is deferred. The downside is, it eventually comes home with a vengeance. So lately I’ve been trying to impose a little discipline on myself by selecting for the day’s ride that bike which is in most dire need of a bath, a lube job, some minor mechanical work or simply a little lovin’.
On Wednesday it was the Jamis Supernova, which got a bath and a lube and will not be ridden again until I solve its fork-chatter issue, which is frankly scary under heavy braking. Yesterday it was the DBR Prevail TT, which only needed grease and some air but hadn’t been ridden in months and was feeling neglected. Tomorrow it will probably be the mango Steelman Eurocross, which needs a fresh set of Kool-Stop Thinline brake pads the way Michelle Bachmann needs round-the-clock psychiatric care.
And today it was the red Steelman Eurocross, which got a long-overdue tire change along with its wash and grease. This was one of a run of Team Clif Bar bikes built by Brent Steelman, who has built five bikes for me, four of which I have loved unreservedly. Lately I’ve been finding some affection for the fifth.
This Eurocross used to ride a bit weird for me back in the day. It has a downtube of True Temper S3, originally sported an Alpha Q carbon fork, and handled like an aluminum bike on my bumpy, rattlesnake-infested Weirdcliffe cyclo-cross course. I don’t like aluminum bikes, especially aluminum ‘cross bikes. So I slapped a steel fork on the sumbitch and now it’s pretty much the ideal Bibleburg bike-path bike, handling pavement and dirt alike with nary a whimper.
Like a lot of the machinery in the garage, it’s an oddball blend of top shelf and gack box. The rear derailleur is an ancient eight-speed Shimano 600 that, like Amarante Córdova from “The Milagro Beanfield War,” simply will not die. The front is a much newer Ultegra.
The cassette is an XT, I think (13-28), while the crankset and bottom bracket are FSA (48/38). Shifting and braking are courtesy of a pair of aftermarket Tiagra-level STI levers (the original Ultegra brifters croaked, as they will).
Other bits include a Chris King headset, Ritchey stem, Deda 215 bars wrapped with some abso-fuckin’-lutely indestructible Off the Front cyclo-cross handlebar tape (Hi, Bruce and Jodie!), Empella Frogglegs top-mounted brake levers, Paul’s brakes (Neo-Retro front, Touring rear), Kool-Stop Thinline pads, Time pedals, Cane Creek Crono Cross wheels with Michelin Jets, and a Selle Italia Flite saddle (accept no substitutes) atop a RockShox suspension seat post.
I took ‘er out for a quick ride into the AFA and back, jumping off the New Santa Fe Trail just south of the sewage-treatment plant for a bit of road riding (can’t beat that federal asphalt) and then rejoining the trail just short of the south gate.
Tomorrow it’s fun with brake pads. If you hear a high-pitched keening noise followed by some very bad language, it’s probably me.
Mad Blog Media 
I enjoy reading your blog, regardless of the subject matter! I no longer subscribe to BRAIN, being an ex-shop employee, but I always looked forward to your rants there, as well.
Regarding the fork chatter issue on the Jamis Supernova: I’ve been following some of the ‘cross forums lately and apparently the cause is the cable housing stop on the steerer. The solution is mount the housing stop at the fork crown ala front reflector style. It requires a hole through your fork crown like for fenders or caliper brakes. The correct cable hanger can be ordered from your local shop. I guess the shorter cable run between the housing stop and the yoke is the trick to solving brake chatter.
So get a new cable hanger and show the Jamis some love.
I’m really getting to like cross bikes. Fast and stiff enough to be fun, versatile enough to do most shit. That includes commute, tour, bang around the trails, or do the Tour de West Side of Town on the way home from work at night with plenty of room for my crap in a pannier without screwing up the bike handling. Wanna ride in the winter? Plenty of room to slap on a set of cross knobbies and even fenders.
Since I have no illusions about riding fast any more, I don’t give up much by not riding the fancy road racing stuff.
Hi,
Did you ever cure the brake chatter on the Supernova? Are fenders actually compatible with this bike?? I’m asking because it looks like a great bike, I’m shopping for a replacement, and few high-end CX frames are fender friendly.
I’d love to hear what your impression is of the bike overall too, the frame/fork in particular.
Thanks!