Cleaning, tinkering and thinking...

Well today I slept late (10a) and no I don't regret it. The 2nd half of my work week drained me mentally and physically. My much neglected home needed to be cleaned so I had already planned to blow the day away doing that. So after the needed tasks were done, my rooms look 100% improved. I debated riding, even went so far as to get the clothes out. Tried out different bikes in the yard, none really stirred up interest. Wonder why it is some days, you just don't want to ride?

Anyway, I spied another thing that has needed my attention for a while. That being the trailer than I keep my bikes in. I have just thrown stuff in there mindlessly for too long. I set off to clean it and threw away a lot of junk. I also went through some old bike parts - amazing that I even have old bike stuff. It doesn't seem like I've been riding long enough. Anyway, found the original cranket set off of Ritchey - decided to disassemble the rings. Why? I don't know. I guess I was wondering if the middle one could be put on the single speed if needed? It is a 32t. I don't know if that works that way or not. I also ran across an old chain that didn't appear to be in too horrible of a shape, so I stashed it away in case I go really nuts and decided to alter the single speed some more. A chain tool and a couple of links and voila, a chain. I also have run across some items that I guess I could put on eBay - two saddles and a brand new set of egg beater pedals. Then there was the original stem off Ritchey. I looked at it once, set it aside and moved on. I would come back to in later.

In fact, my brain was thinking if the Easton stem on the SS is too long, I'm stretched out and that puts my weight forward when I stand. If this one was shorter then I could be back more over the center of the bike and with more weight over the pedals, perhaps I could pedal more efficiently when standing and/or sitting. Also, the weight would transfer back towards the rear of the bike therefore keeping back wheel from spinning?!? I don't know if I'm right or not, but my physics knowledge was saying - try it.

So I debated - knowing that I would have to be very careful removing the stem because of the headset. I really didn't want to screw this up. So I checked and held the two stems up and compared. Sure enough the Ritchey stem is shorter. They appear to have the same angle, so I decided to try it. I successfully removed the Easton stem and replaced it with the Ritchey, but at first there was something really wrong. OOPS, I had accidently removed one of the spacers, so the headset was jiggly. Oh, no..... Well since, I was knee deep into the project I went ahead and took the stem off again this time replacing the spacer and holding everything carefully in alignment tightened everything back up. The headset seemed ok. I put the handlebars back on the bike and took a test ride in the yard and street. Of course, there's no way to tell if this is going to make a difference right now, but at least I'm trying. I suppose all is still well with the work because the bike turns, the handlebars and such are all lined up ok. We'll see.

After tinkering with the SS for a while, debating if I wanted to try to find the click that's in the bottom bracket; I decided to leave well enough alone. As I was putting stuff away, I decided to build a snowman. What? I know you're thinking I've lost my mind. Of course, I have; after all who decides to set aside a perfectly good, geared bike to ride a single speed? HA (just kidding, a jab at my buddies who are uni-geared people). Anyway, yea I'm nucking futs. I love snow and we've had 1/2 inch officially here this winter. That folks is going to suck royally in the summer. But, yea I did build a snow man, but out of the rings from the disassembled crankset. A skewer later and he had arms. =) Maybe I need more sleep?