Rene, I don't have much to add, but thank you for sharing the details of you experience with the fork conversions on the Atlantis and Hunq. I know how much work goes into properly documenting this kind of project, and I think it's a wonderful contribution for all of us onlookers!
Best, Colin, Washington, DC On Thu, Jan 10, 2013 at 4:32 PM, René Sterental <[email protected]> wrote: > I started work this week and with my new 2013 goals, have started commuting > every other day to build up slowly. I commute from Palo Alto to San Jose > (California) and ride my bike from my house to Downtown Palo Alto where I > board the train to Downtown San Jose and then ride to work via the newly > paved Guadalupe River Trail. Currently it's about 15 minutes to ride from my > house (2.32 miles) and then 30 minutes on the GRT (5.2 miles) for a total of > aproximately 45 minutes each way. > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/orthie251/8368773624/ > > It's funny (actually sad) how out of shape one can get, but I feel pretty > tired at the end of the day when I've done this commute. Not dead tired, but > still feel it, particularly on my legs. > > Last week while I was still on vacation and it wasn't raining, I started > riding my Atlantis with its new low trail fork after taking a long time to > rebuild it. The original Berthoud fenders I was using on this bike needed > modifications (front) due to the new fork and misalignment of the hole that > held it to the front rack. So, I decided to get a new set of fenders and > found a pair of smooth 50mm Honjo fenders that I decided to try instead of > the Berthouds. These fenders have no holes drilled at all, so it's going to > be a long day of installation to make sure they go in perfectly and I don't > mess up. I've had quite a bit of practice lately, so it's just a matter of > taking it easy and not rushing it. > > The Atlantis with the new configuration is handling very nicely. To be able > to carry my laptop easily, I put back the Platrack and bag, but to carry the > extra clothes I need now that it's cold in the morning but not so cold in > the evening, I may add the medium Saddlesack to the rear with the R14 rack > once the fenders are installed. > > So far, with the front rack both unloaded and lightly loaded with clothes, > there isn't a hint of shimmy on the trail sections where I pick up speed and > would get it before. I put back the original CK headset that is supposed to > be shimmy prone just to make sure that any differences experienced weren't > due to the needle bearing headset. Still early to make any solid claims, > just feeling happy with the bike's handling. > > The one thing I've noticed is how well the bike now wants to turn. Tight > turns at some speed that used to make me tense and where I had a hard time > keeping the turn tight now seem to happen effortlessly and almost in > response to the thought to turn. Again, no side by side comparisons and not > enough time riding the bike, but feeling happy about it. > > Another thing I've felt, is that the bike is now a pleasure to ride with my > hands further inwards on the Bullmoose bars. I seem to recall reading > somewhere in BQ that low trail bikes favored narrower bars whereas high > trail bikes favored wider bars. I think I'll go back to trying a set of > Rando bars just to see how they feel now. My issues with drop bars have to > do with hand/neck pain due to the reach, but I may still give them a try to > see if anything has changed. > > Apologies for the long post... it's a slow day at work! > > René > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "RBW Owners Bunch" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
