how i get around.
i'm currently riding on a slightly modified mercier kilo tt, with an old deep v wheelset and a rather durable maxxis detonator tire on the back. today i switched the wheelsets on my bikes to make two distinct rides due to the varied gear ratios. this one is a rigorous 48/14 ratio, which gives me a 6.9 gain and will probably cause my thighs to get HUGE.
i also ride brakeless so i don't get lazy about practicing trackstands and skidstops, although i might need to get a helmet sooner rather than later since i've been commuting on this sucker as of late. future modifications include a brooks saddle and maybe nitto bullhorn handlebars. i met up with raul earlier and he was trying to steer me towards time trial bars, but i'm not sure how i feel about spending that much on such a small part of my bike. my test ride around dupont was pretty unnerving at first as i wasn't used to the higher gain so it felt like i was flying through the city.
the first bike i built, a miyata 112 road conversion, is now relegated to a rainy day beater bike. with the kenda tires i hope the shimano front brake is more effective than it was with the non-machined deep vs. i'm running a 42/16 ratio on this one, so it's pretty much a glorified cruiser, which is fine for days when i'd rather take it easy.
last month my knees were starting to get bad because i was running at the gym and then biking pretty frequently, so it's nice to have a relatively low-key ride like this. the 5.3 gain is good enough for the city without having to feel like i'm traveling at warp speed. that's fine though, during the winter this thing held up faithfully, so i think i'm obliged to ride it every now and then despite the fact that i've fallen in love with the mercier's track geometry and overall lighter ride.