Going postal
On Thursday I ordered everything I need for Yellow Bike, with the exception of the pedals, saddle and brifters. Today, the mailman brought everything that was shipping via US Mail.
Still out there somewhere are the rear dérailleur and two rolls of bar tape. (I expect to mess it up the first time.)
I also ordered some stuff I don’t really need for Yellow Bike, but that I wanted anyway. I’d gotten a $100 gift certificate to Amazon for participating in a helmet study for MIT, (yes, that MIT), so I figured I could blow it on wants rather than needs.
Still in transit are a Blackburn Delphi 4.0 cyclometer, a Topeak Road Morph pump and a pair of yellow bottle cages.
I have no manual for the Trek cyclometer that came on Yellow Bike. Near as I can tell, it’s short a feature or two that I’ve come to appreciate on my CatEye Double Wireless. Perhaps more importantly, the Trek unit is butt ugly.
The Delphi 4.0 gives me everything I have in the CatEye at less than half the price. Of course, the cadence isn’t wireless either on the Delphi, but after having broken off the CatEye’s cadence sensor arm, I’m not too keen on that feature.
I had to keep myself from going up the the Delphi 5.0, which adds heart rate monitor, or the Delphi 6.0 which adds altimeter to that. Two features not on the CatEye, and still at less than its price.
I don’t really need the pump. I figure it’ll be nice to have on group rides, just in case someone flats and doesn’t have one of their own. I manage flats differently—by prevention. On Bike, I run Specialized Armadillo Infinity puncture-resistant tires, Mr. Tuffy tire liners and heavy-duty thorn-resistant tubes.
Yellow Bike is getting a set of Continental Ultra Gatorskin puncture-resistant tires and thorn-resistant tubes. At least to start. The tubes I bought for it are so thick, there may not be enough room for air once I get them mounted.
The yellow water bottle cages? Well the ones that came on Yellow Bike are mismatched—both in style and material. While hunting down the perfect bar tape (yellow and blue) I discovered colored cages. I simply had to have two. I’m now searching for blue water bottles.
Truth be told, I almost ordered colored tires. But my head nearly exploded while trying to decide between yellow to match the frame, or blue to match the rims. (The rims are blue anodized.) Of course, it was only after I decided to stick with black tires that I remembered the joke on the forums about yellow being the fastest color. Maybe next time…
I’m having the same yellow or blue dilemma in shopping for another helmet. After all, I can’t be seen wearing a red mountain bike helmet while riding a yellow road bike.
Then there’s the rest of the wardrobe. Fortunately, the Rochester Bicycling Club colors are the same yellow and blue. Our jerseys are yellow with a blue sort of confetti pattern on them. I’m thinking either add blue shorts, or, I found black shorts with a colored side panel in them. Available in either yellow or blue. Maybe one of each… Then there are the yellow “Addict” socks from Sock Guy.
And lets not get started on pedals and shoes, okay?
At this point, I’m not sure if my normally recessive gay accessorizing gene has finally awakened, or if it’s something to do with owning a road bike. After all, straight men go completely bonkers with colored accessories for their bikes. Hell, the only reason colored accessories are made is because so many people buy them. They can’t all be gay. No, it’s gotta be some sort of roadie thing.
Anyway, I have to get some billing out on Wednesday, but maybe after that I can start on Yellow Bike. I’m going to disassemble everything and give it a good thorough cleaning first. The poor thing is just plain filthy. It’s going to need a ton of degreaser and polishing compound. And I have to pick up a bottle of Pedro’s Bike Lust wax. And I forgot about cable sheath, ferrules and end caps.
I have a couple of weeks anyway until I can afford the next step, which is to take it to Full Moon Vista for a bottom bracket and the wheel bearings and freehub serviced. Since I’ll need to learn about pedal fit and adjustment, I’ll probably get the pedals and shoes there too.
