Thor is teasing us again, twirling his hammer like a drum major’s baton.
Will Mjölnir finally deliver the goods today? The Monday Geezer Ride is scheduled for 10:30, but I’d gladly trade 20 miles of asphalt for .20 inch of rain. What the hell, I got a nice 20-miler in yesterday on my No. 2 Steelman Eurocross, jumping from road to trail and back again as the spirit moved.
If it does rain, it would be a perfect opportunity for me to revise that bike’s cockpit. I’ve never really liked the chunky aftermarket Flight Deck STI levers, and the old Deda bar has more drop and reach than I prefer in my Golden Years.
Happily, I have a new Soma Hwy One bar awaiting its callup and the original STI levers from my No. 1 Eurocross, long ago transformed to standard brake levers and indexed bar-end shifters.
I’d go to indexed bar-cons on No. 2, too, but I’m fresh out of the eight-speed versions — nine I got (from the now-dismantled Voodoo Nakisi), and seven (still on the Steelman time-trial bike,. But not eight.
While I’m at it maybe I could replace No. 2’s old Shimano 600 rear derailleur with a “new” 105 or a “slightly used” Ultegra? I even have a never-used Altus from Rivendell. Said to be Grant the P’s favorite rear d., it will accommodate a 34T (!) cog. That’d be a nice change from the 28T cog on there now. My No. 1 Eurocross uses a derailleur-tab extender and a 32T cog for the steep bits.
If I were smart I’d swipe the seven-speed bar-cons from the TT bike, put them and my last set of Shimano 600 brake levers on No. 2, and call it good.
But you know the odds of me ever getting smart.
Mad Blog Media 
Cheeez, Patrick
Just use the 9sp to shift 8-
works fine, use 2nd to top till the springs are tired and it doesn’t drop cleanly to the small cog, then use 1st to 8th till we’re 90 and ‘they’ won’t let us ride anymore….
I have to inspect the caliper alignment on the Litespeed Gravel. I swapped wheelsets from the 700-38s to the 700-32s which with file tread in the center instead of miniknobs, are much better road tires, to do the Hyde Park Road ride yesterday. Had just a touch of squeak on the Park stand, so I ignored it.
Bad idea. I guess when the brake rotors heated up, they expand a bit or are slightly out of true. Barrelling down Hyde Park at Fabio Casartelli speeds, the bike was going SQUEAK SQUEAK SQUAWK SQUAWK HOWL HOWL. Fortunately, only me around to be appalled.
Gotta check the clearances today.
The good thing about howling brakes? People generally get the hell out of your way.
I’m confused. Patrick, I’m glad you didn’t leave me alone with your parts stash. I wouldn’t know what to steal. But, if Herb was there, he would give me expert guidance.
Khal, what kind of brakes are on the Litespeed? Plus, rotors can warp and stay that way. You might have to true them.
They are the Shimano GRX 400 brake set. Shimano rotors. The setup on the aftermarket wheels seems to usually be the culprit. Might be more flex in them as well as being a little warped.
If it says “Paul” on the bike part anywhere it would be worth thieving for sure. But POG likely has surveillance set up and even though it was your birthday yesterday Pat he likely would have clubbed you with a pedal wrench.
I’ve got Paul’s stuff sprinkled throughout The Fleet. Worth every penny it is, too. Three sets of cantis (Neo-Retro fronts and Touring rears); one set of Racer centerpulls; and one set of MiniMoto V-brakes (with a second set awaiting a bike).