I suppose it’s Metal Week right here on Bike Snob NYC, and one cause to go along with the magnetic choice when selecting a body is to not tempt the disembodied hand of destiny:
Contemplate the Faggin:
It’s been in our household for so long as I’ve been penning this weblog, which is an astonishing 17 years. (I imply writing a weblog for 17 years is astonishing, not hanging onto a motorbike for 17 years.) Additionally, who is aware of how the body was handled earlier than that, because it definitely seemed its age after which some after we obtained it. Now perhaps I’m tempting the disembodied hand of destiny [see above] by saying this, however whereas I do know the Faggin may definitely Fa-fail at any level, it’s in all probability not going to take action in a scary manner. (Hey, I used to race bikes, I’ve seen folks crash and depart a race carrying two halves of a crabon bike. Additionally, I don’t know if it’s potential for a pink bike to be scary in any circumstance.)
Talking of the Faggin, the Faggindex is sort of excessive. May or not it’s that my current posts about it have inflated their worth? Nearly definitely not–as biking’s preeminent de-influencer, folks exit of their solution to do the alternative of no matter it’s I’m doing. Nonetheless, what else may clarify these costs?
It’s a pleasant bike, however $2,500?
After all, you can save your self some huge cash by getting a tiny body with Shimano 600 elements:
Simply kidding!
Aw, fuck it, I’m getting the Faggin humorous bike:
In comparison with that little man it’s an absolute cut price:
And clearly none of these Faggini have the character of this one:
And no, I’m not attempting to fluff you for a sale. The truth is I’m forbidden to promote this bicycle because the body has sentimental worth and is part of our household historical past. That is why I’ve returned it to common service and am lavishing mechanical consideration on it.
Talking of metal bikes, and lavishing mechanical consideration, my beloved Milwaukee in fact comes from valued longtime sponsor Ben’s Cycles, who’ve graciously assisted me in updating my wheel state of affairs:
The edges are Velocity A23s:
And the hubs are Shimano 105:
These items will not be even remotely unique, and that’s precisely how I prefer it.
Upon receipt they went proper onto the Milwaukee:
I’d been utilizing a Campagnolo hub, which is type of ridiculous because it limits you to Campagnolo (or I suppose additionally Miche) cassettes, however now between the Shimano hub and the friction shifter my cassette choices are virtually limitless:
Plus I nonetheless get the benefit from the perverse thrill of blending Shimano and Campagnolo:
I may additionally remind you that derailleur was runner-up within the Traditional Cycle twenty first Century Friction Shifter Shootout, so give it the respect it deserves.
The A23s are wider than the Open Professionals I used to be utilizing, and are a very good match with the 35mm tires:
Which the Milwaukee clears with room to spare:
Even on the medium-reach brake caliper:
And, I additionally obtained a second similar pair of wheels, which I’ve now lavished upon the Faggin:
Sure, silver spokes would look higher, however no matter.
The wheels I’d been utilizing on there earlier than have been over 20 years previous; I bear in mind shopping for them used and going out to Lengthy Island on my bike to choose them up after work. (Are you able to think about I as soon as had a bike and a job? I used to be a very totally different individual.) I’d not too long ago changed the freehub physique, and whereas the operation was successful, it wasn’t the proper physique for the hub, and for causes I don’t fairly perceive I needed to do all types of axle spacer shenanigans and the cassette wound up fairly far inboard. (Why an 11-speed freehub physique on a 9-speed hub strikes the cassette inboard I don’t know.) Anyway all of it labored simply positive, however the chainline’s a lot better now, plus the edges aren’t frighteningly concave just like the previous ones have been:
If nothing else, one good cause to trip a metal bike is that you should use just about no matter hub spacing you need. Possibly I’ll even get some disc brake tabs placed on there. Then the bike shall be completely future-proof.
