My Bikes - Technical Stuff

Preformance R205/207 Road Bike

I bought this bike in September, 1996. It is a steel-frame bike, with STI shifting, and it only cost me $400 (before modifications). I was quite happy with it. Alas, I sheared off the right chainstay in October, 1997 (hammering away on a downhill section of Canada Road...) Happily, Performance replaced the frame for free. Now my bike is a royal-blue R207... :-)

Here's a few of the things I've changed/added:

• Shimano 105 triple-chainring set (this increased the big chainring from 46 to 52).

• Scott RCO aerobars. I found them (minus the box and a few screws) for $40. I do a lot of flat solo riding, and the aerobars really help. (They're comfy, too. :-)

• Avocet 50 Cyclocomputer/Altimeter. This was the original cyclocomputer with an altimeter. It's fun to see how high things are. Unfortunately, in my experience, the design was not incredibly durable. Avocet replaced mine several times under warranty, because the altitude became unstable. Avocet offers great customer service, but it must've been expensive for them to keep replacing the altimeter. I've heard that this model has been discontinued, but Avocet has recently introduced a new version, the 55. The new Cateye 100 also has an altimeter.

• NiteRider Cyclops headlight. (see Fuji description below).

Fuji Sandblaster Mountain Bike

I used to have an Iron Horse mountain bike, until I left it U-locked to a bike rack at Evans Hall in Berkeley overnight, and it got stolen. My parents bought me this Fuji mountain bike for my birthday (June 1993), to replace the Iron Horse. It was my only bike until I got my first road bike in 1996. I used to ride it everywhere, but now I use it mostly for getting around town.

Here's a few of the things I've changed/added:

• Scott AT-4 aero handlebars, which are a combination of standard mountain bars, bar-ends, and aerobars. The multiple hand positions made it easier on my wrists (I broke my left wrist pretty badly in '93.) So my bike had bar-ends before they became fashionable. :-)

• A new rear cluster, so that my gear ratios are a little higher (48-12). I like going fast down hills, as long as it's within the speed limit. :) (My speed records are 48 mph on-road (52 mph drafting a bus), and 37 mph off-road.)

• Continental Town & Country tires. These have an inverse tread (holes instead of bumps), which gives it pretty good road handling, and decent off-road traction, too.

• Avocet 40 bike computer.

• NiteRider Cyclops rechargeable headlight. It has a bright 10 (or 15) watt beam, and lasts for three hours. It makes nighttime riding fun! For really long trips, I bring along an extra alkaline battery case, which gives me another 4 hours for each set of batteries. I also have a Vistalight on the back so that cars behind me can see me at night.