A new addition to the bicycling stable

[850 Combat]

My dad grew up in Kenai and there is still some family in the area. The logo and head badge was designed by a friend some years back and I finally was able to fabricate a proper badge this year using an acid etching process. In case it's not apparent it's a totem figure and the outer chainring outline is supposed to look like a parka. Anyway, it's lugged steel with as you noted, a carbon fork. I like the fork because it damps vibration better than a steel fork can. I've got more/better photos that I'll try to get up later.





Edit: a couple more head badges I made...

P1040241 by nessism, on Flickr

Thanks for that, sir. I love every bit of it. Congratulations on your skills. Do you make the lugs? Are they commercially available? The badges are terrific too.

[B.C.G.S.]

How did I miss this thread before? Anyhow, I was thinking of refurbishing my old Varsity. I,m shocked to read that 27" tires aren't made any more.

[Nessism]

The lugs are made by Darrell McCulloch in Australia. They are pretty unique since they are designed for a sloping top tube and XL oversized tubing. Pretty much the only such lugs on the market. I could make lugs myself but it would take me a long time and I doubt they would be as nice as these. I did reshape them a little and bend the angles, but overall they are stock.

[850 Combat]

You can buy 27" tires, just not light high pressure fast rolling ones. A light strong fast rolling wheel set is the best upgrade you can give your bike, especially with high pressure kevlar bead tires. Low rotating mass and low rolling resistance are more beneficial than overall light weight. Original varsities never came with a light wheel set that I know of. I had a Continental in the early 70s. I think it was 40lbs. A Varsity with alloy stem and handlebars pretty much.

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_12?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=27+bicycle+tires&sprefix=27%22+bicycle+%2Caps%2C384&crid=3JYM9F9975SW

They probably have 27" tires at WalMart. I just couldn't find what I was looking for in that size any more, folding kevlar bead 1" to 1-1/8" wide tires rated for over 100psi. Light high pressure tires are tires with a quiet fast rolling tread are hard to find now too. tire sizes go from 650C, 26", 700C, 27", 27.5", 28", 29". Its crazy now how many sizes there are.

[GS1150Pilot]

Pretty easy to swap out 27" for 700C. Wheels are cheap and a great way to update/upgrade your ride.

[B.C.G.S.]

Thanks for the info, guys. I'm jonesing for a mtn bike but, holy chit they're not cheap!

[GS1150Pilot]

Thanks for the info, guys. I'm jonesing for a mtn bike but, holy chit they're not cheap!

They sure aren't, but you can get a lot for a moderate amount if you shop sensibly.

I probably have about $2K in the fat bike, so, while that's not exactly cheap, it's a far cry from a friend's Moots, which ran him about $4K, and that's not much compared to some wild exotic stuff out there.

[Jedz123]

I recently just got back into the pedal bike realm! But this a power assisted model and it's pretty awesome! Makes mince meat of hills! Really nice bike, far better then what I've had in my past, the hydraulic disc brakes are AWESOME. Range isn't so great in the cold but I usually just keep it in eco mode, I was definitely feeling it today on the hills. Put it to full power and it's kinda crazy how quick you spin up to 20 mph. The assist falls off around 22mph which is fine, it was nice to see I could push the bike (on my own power) to 30mph sprints.
I really love being on a pedal bike, it just is a great way to stay in shape and the pedal assist is nice to have after you wind yourself on a hill. I can do 20 miles in about an hour, with the assist it's the same but I'm not soaked in sweat.

[B.C.G.S.]

How far are you from Kingdom Trails? I want to go there next fall, probably.

off topic, when does that flag date to?

[Jedz123]

The flag is the Centennial flag. It was the flag that flew when my house was built.

Where is Kingdom Trails bud? If I get a town name I'll let you know!

[B.C.G.S.]

https://kingdomtrails.org/

[B.C.G.S.]

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=kingdom+trails+mountain+biking&sp=CAI%253D

[Jedz123]

https://kingdomtrails.org/

2.5 hours from me.

[GS1150Pilot]

I recently just got back into the pedal bike realm! But this a power assisted model and it's pretty awesome! Makes mince meat of hills! Really nice bike, far better then what I've had in my past, the hydraulic disc brakes are AWESOME. Range isn't so great in the cold but I usually just keep it in eco mode, I was definitely feeling it today on the hills. Put it to full power and it's kinda crazy how quick you spin up to 20 mph. The assist falls off around 22mph which is fine, it was nice to see I could push the bike (on my own power) to 30mph sprints.
I really love being on a pedal bike, it just is a great way to stay in shape and the pedal assist is nice to have after you wind yourself on a hill. I can do 20 miles in about an hour, with the assist it's the same but I'm not soaked in sweat.

Ugh: E-bikes. They are a bane to trails, and they make lazy people feel like heroes. I'm a frequent poster on MTBR, and there are great discussions about these things. Seriously, why give power advantages to humans on a human-powered vehicle. Let the gears be honest, and let safety be at least a possibility for those of moderate abilities.

https://www.welovecycling.com/wide/2016/09/23/e-bikes-shouldnt-allowed-mtb-bike-trails/

[GS1150Pilot]

LoL: Regarding honest gears, I'm changing the front sprocket on the BMX bike to make it accelerate quicker. Lots of folks run top speed gearing on singlespeed bikes, but it makes them less interesting to poke around and do tricks on.