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alexwetmore.org/?p=1198

I put on my Tubus Tara front rack so I could haul a load to work on the bike. I used two panniers so i could divide the load evenly even though they were not full. Low riders tend to feel too low for me in general though. They keep me from "Getting RAD." Well maybe it's more that when I get sloppy with directing the bike I run the panniers into something. I've blown off my ortliebs from the front rack on multiple occasions though when riding off road or on rough dirt roads.

alexwetmore.org/?p=1198

Alex brought the bike by with some Ritchey Speedmax semi-knobbies. On the test ride they gave out a horrible squeak. we switched the tires to some Ritchey Tom Slick 26x1.4" (~35mm). No more squeeks but huge offset from the fenders now.

I'm riding the bike with about 80mm saddle height. (For reference I am 6' tall and have about an 88cm inseam) I'm still playing with the for-aft position of the saddle. Right now there is 4-5cm drop to the top of the bars. (I might flip the stem tonight). I raised the saddle about 1cm before riding in today since it felt low last night (could be due to saddle sag). I think this frame is on the threshhold of what size I would pick for myself these days. The little bit of drop to the bars makes this bike feel aggressive though. I think Alex already had a hard time sourcing the long steerer. I like 26" wheeled bikes but when they get ported over directly to 700c designs they start looking small to me on 58cm and larger frames, for instance the LHT (see below). I think Alex pulled off a well balance compromise though between a modern 26" compact geometry MTB and a horizontal top-tubed touring bike.
www.flickr.com/photos/hiawathacyclery/4349848937/in/faves...

alexwetmore.org/?p=1198

I'd prefer bar end shifters on this type of bike but riding it to work the downtubes were not that bad. The bike seemed less twitch when i drop a hand to use the shifters though as opposed to other roadbikes. The D/A 9speed shifters and XTR ders feel very crisp though which scores high on my mechanical attraction to bikes.

The Tektro Linear Pull Drop bar levers are paired with some Deore V-brakes. The pads are still breaking in a little but the stopping is great. The only knock against the brake levers is that the top is not very flat, it has a ridge that I find uncomfortable in the crotch of my hand when riding out of the saddle.

Well, riding isn't so bad, it's the pedaling that throws me off.