Mood: inspired
Sound: Screamfeeder
Travel destination: Japan or Hong Kong
I have done it.
I have a new job. I have a new (old) method of commuting. I ride a bike again. Well a push bike, not a motorbike. After all the last time I rode a motorbike it was not pretty at all. I am still recovering from my accident – my scars itch, my mind never rests, I am scared of sparring in Taekwon Do - I need to find solace.
I have taken what has been described to me as a senior management role with a publishing company. This company has quite a good stable of brands and I am looking forward to getting into some projects and making a difference. It should be fun, but it will certainly be a challenge.
I also bought myself a present, a Fluid Nitro “performance” mountain bike. It’s the most expensive push bike I have ever owned and it’s a really nice ride, but then I have nothing to compare it to I guess. A guy I used to work with rode a $13,000 Conalgo bike – that’s 4 times the cost of my first car!! Anyway the features of my bike are:
- Frame: 7005 Alloy with Double Butted Fluid form top tube, down tube with squared rear stays
- Fork: Suntour XCR-LO Alloy outer legs with preload adjuster and Lock Out
- Rear Derailleur: Shimano Deore LX
- Front Derailleur: Shimano Deore
- Gear Shifters: Shimano Deore 9 speed
- Crankset: Shimano 442
- Bottom Bracket: Shimano Octalink cartridge
- Brakes: Tektro Auriga Comp Hydraulic disc
- Brake Levers: Tektro
- Hubs: Shimano Alloy Disc 475
- Rims: Alloy Double wall Weinman XTB-24
- Spokes: 14g Stainless steel
- Tyres: Kenda MTB 26 x 1.95 all black
- Pedals: Alloy MTB
- H.Bar/Stem: Alloy oversize riser bar with A Head over sized stem
- Seat Post: Alloy micro adjust
- Saddle: WTB Pure V Race
- Grips: Kraton Rubber
I have no idea what that all means but it’s nice and light, runs well and apparently will run even better with a set of “slicks”. Can anyone out there interpret? I need to get more active again.
The one thing my motorcycle accident has taught me – life will pass me by if I don’t get out there and do more. I do not want my life measured by how much I worked or by how many hours I spent on a keyboard. I want my life measured by how I relate to those around me, by the experiences I had, by the attitude I have (this list seems incomplete to me – maybe I will explore it some more one day).
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by Adrian
13 May 2008 at 20:27
Andrew,
Slicks – Road tyres for your MTB they have little/no tread so don’t hum and are much faster on bitumen, they also corner better on the road. However they are lethal on dirt and have no grip at all, so if you intend dirt riding as well and don’t like changing tyres or buying an extra set of wheels then look for a compromise tyre. The standard ones on the Nitro are meant for dirt. Basically think of slicks as the same as race car tyres that are also called slicks – little /no tread go very fast with a lot of grip on bitumen.
Hows the Nitro worked out for you. I am looking at buying one this week, and am interested in your opinion now you’ve had it a while.
by Andrew
14 May 2008 at 16:06
Thanks Adrian!
Even after all of this time I have not gone with slicks. I am still thinking about it though – I rarely do go off road with my bike as riding for me is about commuting.
Honestly I got this model of bike because of the hydraulic brakes. Where I live is so scarily hilly I wanted to be able to stop in a hurry.
The Nitro rocks. Light, reliable and a lot of bike for the money.
I am not a die-hard bike rider, but I would recommend it!