So all this writing about bikes and reading my buddies blogs about their rides had me going down memory lane to where the obsession began and all the steeds I have thrown my leg over during my time on this here planet. I'll try to start from the beginning...
1.
1978 or 79
Kent Bike Relevant Highlights/Features etc:My "first" bike. I don't remember much about it except it had a banana set (something I would beg, remind and pester my dad to NEVER get on my new bike). Most telling memory of this bike: I would take it down the street to a hill and ride down it. Only problem, the "hill was an intersection of a 4 way stop. well the good times cam eto an end one day when I slammed into the side of my neighbor's car as Ihe drove through the intersection. went through the windsheild and landed on his (surprised) lap. Best part-no broken bones and very little damage to me. Bike was folded in half and car had a large dent in the side and no windshield. Scariest part-when the fire trucks, ambulance showed up, I was afraid I would get in trouble from my mom!
2.
1980 (ish)
Kent BMX Bike Relevant Highlights/Features etc:My "first" BMX bike. I drooled over my friend getting a Redline Mach III, my parents weren't paying $200+ for no bike, so I was given a Toys R Us bike. One word: Yellow. Yellow vinyl pads (gooseneck, top bar, handle bar), yellow tires. I rode this thing all over our new housing division in Napa. Tons of jumps I would never do now and plenty of busted "nards".
3.
1989
Schwinn Cross Track Relevant Highlights/Features etc:Not technically "my" bike. This was my friend's dads bike. a 27" hybrid of sorts. I took it on a ton of singletrack exploration, wrecking the rims and parts along the way. Not a highlight in my world, but I had no cash and no bike...gotta do what you gotta do.
4.
1990-92
Skykomish Mountian Bike Relevant Highlights/Features etc:My first "real" mountain bike. Got it from my little brother who somehow had more money and better bikes than I (He had just upgraded to a neon orange GT Pantera with never before seen shocks-Tange Shock blades). A Costco bike (sorry IBDs) that was justified with Shimano LX group, Tange steel frame and a sorry name. To say I pimped this bike out is an understatement. The money poureed into my ride like Niagra Falls. Where to start? Ok here goes:
• Answer ATAC stec
• Manitou Sport fork (the one after the original Manitou and before the Manitou II)
• Flite saddle
• Ritchey Rims and LX hubs
**BIG addition:(thanks to my girlfriend at the time)** PURPLE anodized Grafton cranks and a set of wheels with, you guessed it, PURPLE anodized Ringlé hubs laced to Campy Mirox hoops. Damn I was FLY!
• Stem upgraded to...PURPLE Ringle Zooka!
• Zoom Brama Bars with integrated bar ends
• Purple Ringle skewers
• Clip in pedals finally! Shimano M737, took apart and painted yellow with some Scott shoes (quickly replaced with the sweet purple, blue Garne shoes)
5.
1992-1995
Cannondale M500 Relevant Highlights/Features etc:Holy Crap, I finally made it "big time" a Cannondale (or Crack and Fail or Cannonwhale if you were a hater). My buddy sold me a stripped and polished frameset for a couple hundred bucks, origins questionable (sorry). Damn, I was cooler than a polar bear. I swapped most of the parts from the Skykomish (which had been Jasco'd and repainted a deep blue) and began the upgrade path as usual. Hmm where to begin:
• Purple is heading out, swap the Purple Zooka stem for a Blue anodized one
• Cranks stay purple (for now)
• Add XT rear derailluer
• Smoke and Dart tires upgraded to Smoke and Dart II's
• Continued to polish frame, add black Cannondale frame decals
• First Mail order item-Dean Seatpost (aluminum)
• First loan-purchase Manitou III
• Blue Kevlar Serfas saddle added
• Scott LF bars with integrated bar ends
• My first King product a Red, White and Blue headset
6.
1996-1998 Cannondale
M900 Relevant Highlights/Features etc:I took advantage of the Cannondale frame trade-in policy at Art's SLO Cyclery and got a sweet yellow M900 frame. Sell the M500 for parts money and begin again with the upgrades...
• Redy Judy SL (custom color as they were yellow)
• Black King Hubset
• Specialized Thermoplastic handlebars
• Yellow ONZA CWA bar ends
• Took the purple anodize off the Graftons with Oven Cleaner, had my brother sand blast them and anodize them black, looked pretty cool all matte finish and totally custom
• Yeti grips
• Red Kevlar SDG saddle
• Red Ritchey clipless pedals
• Red Anodized Kooka Cranks
• Can you say XTR? Got some V-Brakes, rear derailleur, cassette
7.
1996-97
Cannondale R400 Road Bike Relevant Highlights/Features etc:My first "real" road bike from, you guessed it, Cannondale. Got it from my teammate on the Cal Poly Wheelman Cycling Team.
Highlights:
• Scott Crit Bars (never did know how to use the lower parts)
• Shimbango 105 downtube shifters
• Mavic MA4 hoops
8.
1997-2001
Santa Cruz Heckler Relevant Highlights/Features etc:Welcome the the world of full suspension! Thanks to my keen ability to utilize a student loan for something other than books, I was able to purchase through my industry connected brother, a sweet white Santa Cruz Heckler. I rode this bike for many moons and came to appreciate the joys of squishy bikes. Upgrade, are you kidding?
• Judy SL goes away, turns into Marzocchi Z1, blue with custom painted crown
• Got another set of King hubs, red with Mavic 517 hoops
• Marzocchi Z1 goes away becomes Marzocchi Jr. T
• Junior T goes away (foolishly) to Cannondale Moto fork (the upside down one from the ridiculously expensive DH bike). The 20mm thru axle was a pain and the Sachs disc brake was a joke (even a Sachs engineer I met said they were not powerful enough to stop)
• Cannondale fork is gone (our shipper had the brains to ship to "Cannondale" a residential address in San Diego with no receipt confirm and no insurance. At least he didn't say sorry or offer to pay). I switch back to red Marzocchi Z1.
• Get sweet Ti Syncros post
9.
2000—Present
Cannondale XS800 Cross Bike Relevant Highlights/Features etc:At the instigation of my boss at King, I get on the cyclocross bandwagon with an eBay purchase of a red Cannondale XS800 cross bike. Love the Headshock! Has basic 105 integrated shifters and a 150mm stem. I begin the build and it looks like this over the years:
• Add wheelset from boss-a Set of Real Hubs laced to Bontrager rims
• Swap stem to 110mm for better fit (I am not an Ape, the 150mm was a joke)
• Add Cook Brothers E Cranks to bike
• Upgrade wheelset to ultra custom Chris King, rose gold anodized hubs laced to CXP30 rims with aero bladed spoke (24/28)
• Do the tire thing, green Michelins, Black Ritcheys
• Add wider Salsa bars (46cm)
• Swap V-Brakes for Avid shortys
• Add gel Ti flite saddley saddle
• Add Specialized Ti Body Geometry saddle
• Rasta bar wrap
• ATAC pedals
• Add wife's rear panniers, Campy Chorus triple, Conti Ultrasport 2000 touring tires for a trip down California coast
10.
2000
Giant Cadex Carbon Bike Relevant Highlights/Features etc:Spur of the momemt purchase from buddy Rich on trip home to Napa. Has the usual 105 down tube shifters, white bar tape, conti's and Mavic rims. Great riding bike, but on a King group ride, there I was JRA and when I went off a curb, made a really weird popping sound...uh oh...time to call Giant
11.
2000—2002
Giant CFR Relevant Highlights/Features etc:Giant was kind enough to warranty the Cadex for a newer version, the CFR. Damn this thing is bright! Yellow frame, aero carbon fork. Love the ride of carbon! Upgrades...
• Swap downtube 105's for a mix of 8speed DuraAce rear shifter, and derailleur, Ultegra Front shifter, Cranks and front derailleur
• Thompson seatpost
• Flite saddle
• Salsa bars (44cm)
• Michelin Pro tires (love em, especially in the green sidewall they started with)
12.
2000—2001
Ibis Mojo Relevant Highlights/Features etc:Now I really have made it, I am the owner of a custom Ibis Mojo. Sure it has a few scratches a dent in the seat tube, but I own an Ibis! Got it from my industry buddy, it was one of the team bikes, orange base coat with hand painted blue jegged squiggles. A better bike or single track I have not found, steel is fo' real! Upgrades? Uhhhhh, yeah-
• Gets Black king wheelset
• SID fork
• Kore Stem (the good one, made in USA)
• Carbon specialized bars
• XTR bits
• Cook Brothers F Series cranks in Black
13.
2001—2004
Ventana El Fuego Relevant Highlights/Features etc:This was a bike I labored over for a long time. I wanted a new full suspension, 3" travel bike and I wanted a boutique brand. I looked at Yeti, Foes, Intense and finally realized that the Marble Peak I had ridden was the best and went in feet first on custom ordering a Ventana. Not cheap! I had to sell the santa Cruz, the Ibis and give a lot of blood, but I got it. Custom painted baby blue (I wanted Pink, but was foolish enough to be talked out of it by Matt & Chris). All Ti pvots, all 12 weeks to get. F'ing SWEET! I plopped the SID on their and with the XTR bits and King stuff had a 24lb ride. The upgrades began...
• SID goes away, get a Marzocchi X Fly 80
• Add Easton Carbon Riser bars
• Add Syncros Carbon post
• Add discs-Hayes hydraulic
• New King wheelset-ISO disc, navy blue
• Navy Blue King Headset
• Race Face Next LP carbon cranks
• FOX Float 80 RLC Fork
14.
2001
Schwinn Panther Cruiser Relevant Highlights/Features etc:Sweet ride I got from a buddy at Schwinn. All black all cool. Used it on some of our cruiser rides in Redding.
15.
2000—Present
Ventana El Toro Single Speed Relevant Highlights/Features etc:Jumped in to the SS world in 2000 with the purchase of my boss's super custom Ventana El Toro frame. Still in the box, it had an alien green/yellow paint job and all custom tubing making it a lot lighter than the stock El Toro. I began the build with King SS hubs & Headset (black), Thompson Stem & post, TruVativ 180mm cranks (SS) Avid Speed lever levers (the ultra custom, fully rebuild-able ones) and Avid Arch Supreme brakes (ultra custom, totally sealed bearings and totally rebuildable). Added Answer Pro taper bar. Upgrades have been few, the bike is flawless and keeps running to this day:
• Easton Mg Stem
• Easton Carbon riser bars
• WTB saddle
• ATAC pedals
16.
2002—Present
Kestrel 200Sci Road Bike Relevant Highlights/Features etc:I had drooled over Kestrels since seeing them in the mid-eighties. The lines on the frameset, the curves, I never thought I would get one. Well my good buddy Kirby had a white 200Sci and helped me decide I needed one too, so I ordered a black one and waited for it to arrive. what a dream! This bike is flawless and keeps me going to this day! Some upgrades:
• Mavic Ksyrium wheelest (teh all black ones)
• Mavic Ksyrium SL wheelset (the black ones with the machined rim
• Added DuraAce 9 Speed cassetee, shifters, chain
• Carbon Easton Bars
• Deda Newton Stem
• Carbon FSA SL cranks
• TUFO tires
• Michelin Pro Race tires
• Fizik Arionne Saddle
17.
2001—Present
Hawthorne Cruiser Bike Relevant Highlights/Features etc:After the Panther I decided I needed another beater for our Redding cruiser rides. I found it in a sweet Hawthorne that I think is late 50's to 60's vintage. It has the gas tank, rear rack, front headlight (non-working) and is pretty straight and rust free. Original color looked to be red, but it was rattle canned and scratched. Still ccould see the orignial frame graphics and I used them as the base when I re-painted with bronze rattle can. I did the pin-striping and painting to insure it didn't rust. Sadly it just sits in a shed right now...
18.
2003
AMP B-4 Relevant Highlights/Features etc:Got this bike in a trade for design work. Perfect condition, save the blown rear shock. Had all original AMP bits-fork, disc brakes and hubs. Thompson seatpost, XT triggers. sadly, I was never able to even ride it as I had to sell it for money when my son was born.
19.
2004—Present
Intense Spider XVP Relevant Highlights/Features etc:My good friend and shop owner John convinced me I needed this bike and so I set about getting it. Sold (sadly) the Ventana to a friend (who later had it stolen off her roof racks while in her driveway for "10 minutes), sold some more bike parts and did some trade out design work to acquire it. The BEST full suspension I have ridden to date. It has a slightly (too ) moto sticker kit and a bright red frame. Swapped a lot of the El Fuego bits to it (King ISO hubs, Hayes Brakes, Race Face Next LP cranks) and bought the rest. Very little upgrading as I have not had a lot of time or need to. Some items:
• Easton Stem and Seatpost
• New Race Face BB
• ODI lock on grips
• Same XTR shifters I have had for 10 years (8 speed all the way)
• ATAC pedals
• Numerous tires
• Fizik Gobi saddle
20.
2003-present
Kestrel MXZ Frame Relevant Highlights/Features etc:My buddy gave me this frame. Could be considered a wreck, seatpost is frozen in frame, BB is frozen in frame and has a ton of knicks. But pass up a bike? Much less a classic carbon, elevated chainstay bike? No way. I'll get around to getting it fixed one way or another, maybe add a 1" rigid fork and single speed it, who knows...
I think that brings the total to;
20 bikes
10-12 Forks
Tons of tires
a couple XTR drivetrains
A lot of Flite saddles
and tons of fun!
I guarantee there will be more bikes on the way. Check out my website (www.babageik.com) as I will try to add pics there of the current stable...
Hmmmm....
Should I ?....
Is somebody trying to tell me something?....
Inspiration on Dry Creek. I always look back over my shoulder at this point and pretend I am really far out there (actually I am about 10 miles from home)
The road uphill....
The view from the top. No Mt. Lassen, but I did see Mt. Diablo in the distance and most of the valley...
McLaren SLR, ohh about $400,000 and very rare
Ford actually does make a car I would own-The GT40.
