Two years, 8,000 miles
Sunday was my two-year anniversary with the Portland.
Not much has changed in the way I feel about this bike since I wrote Superlative two weeks and 200 miles after I rode it home for the first time. It remains a superb all-rounder that’s a joy to ride and I’m proud to be seen on.
The bike still seems custom-made for me and the riding I do. It’s nimble in traffic, yet stable carrying loads. It carves up curvy pavement with such ease it’s become ho-hum boring. The handling is precise, yet forgiving when I make a mistake. And it’s a comfortable ride.
Two years and 8,000 miles in and it hardly seems worse for wear. The shiny bits still sparkle, and I’ve put only one scratch in the paintwork. Most of the mechanicals are still original, save for wear parts.
The right-hand lever is new. But that was due to crash damage. The rear brake caliper was a problem right from day one. SRAM/Avid replaced it under warranty a couple of months ago, and the new one is fine.
That leaves the wheels. The 24-spoke wheels, with their trademark Trek paired-spoke lacing sure look pretty, but in a word, they suck.
The wheels weigh a ton, they won’t stay true, and they break spokes with regularity.
On the Monday Night Small Ring ride this week, we were just riding along (JRA) in a nice paceline through Irondequoit on St. Paul heading for Summerville. I heard a ping, felt something through the pedals and the guy on my wheel called out, “Bruce, I think you broke a spoke. Your rear wheel has a wobble.”
Of course I broke a spoke. These wheels always break spokes.
We crossed the river, rode to Turning Point Park where we tried removing the broken spoke, but settled for wrapping it around another so it wouldn’t get caught in anything.
Tuesday morning I had it fixed, ($23) and I ordered parts to have a new wheelset built.
I ordered 32-spoke Velocity VXC disk-brake-specific hoops in silver, a Velocity rear hub, DT Swiss Competition 14/15 spokes with brass nipples, and a Shimano dynamo (generator) front hub.
Oops. It seems I forgot to order brake rotors. I’ll have to remember to do that.
I expect these wheels to be both stronger and lighter than the stock wheels. Yellow Bike’s wheels use Velocity Aerohead and Aerohead O/C hoops and DT Swiss Revolution 14/17 spokes. I’m very happy with Yellow Bike’s wheels. They are strong and light. We’ll have a weigh-in when I pick up the Portland’s new wheels.
What’s kept me form ordering them sooner is that I wanted the dynamo hub. It will power new lights, and the cost of the hub and the lights can be breathtaking. Especially since I really, really wanted the Schmidt SON dynamo hub. The best there is, and they know it when they set the price.
While I continue to rave about my DiNotte headlights, my night vision continues to deteriorate. While most people gasp in awe at the DiNotte’s light output, (let alone two of them) I need more light. And I’m not yet ready to switch to a light with proprietary batteries and chargers. Dynamo lights are the only other option.
It’s out of both frustration (with wheels and lights) and economy that I’ve settled for a Shimano hub. It’s less than half the price, and only slightly less efficient. I’m still holding out for a Schmidt Edeluxe headlight ($200) and a B&M taillight. I’ll be dipping into my emergency money for those.
I’m considering it my two-year anniversary gift to the bike and to myself, as we cross the equinox into the dark part of the year.
With any luck the new wheels and additional lights will keep us both in good stead for many more anniversaries to come.
October 22nd, 2009 at 6:42 am UTC
Huh. That’s crazy that you’ve had so much trouble with your wheels on the Portland. Bontrager Select Discs, right? I’ve never had an issue with mine.
I do agree with you, though. The Portland is such a great bike. It’s going out for its first cyclocross race on Saturday! Should be an interesting experience. With a forecast of 45 and rainy, I’m sure I’ll be happy having those disc brakes.