CYCLING WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION: Seen on Street: Bob Jackson!

Monday, April 4, 2011

Seen on Street: Bob Jackson!

I was pretty stoked on this one despite the some what wonky build:

Bitchin!

4 comments:

Aaron Stewart Ahn said...: WTF that's my bike.

Reason it's somewhat wonky is I built it up to ride hell out of and occassionally park on the streets of NYC but only with two u locks and while i'm sitting in the window of a ramen joint not noticing some pervert taking pictures of it. So I tried to make it come in under $1k, hence some of the mismatch. Couldn't find a 52 / 42 campy crankset that wasn't Gran Sport in an entire year of searching that was affordable. But rest is all period correct Nuovo Record. All other parts are Nitto because I like them under my ass and my hands.

While I understand the somewhat grouchy reaction to its SRAM levers (who else makes the most comfy current levers that aren't overpriced campy aeros on ebay) I have chronic pain issues with my hands / wrists and comfort mattered since I do plan on riding this touring frame some long distances.

I'd love to swap out the subpar Tektro long reach brakes for Paul someday when I win the lottery. 27" - 700c means I had to go with long reach brakes. Heard I could run Campy with a drop bolt but didn't want to bother.

Best score on the whole bike apart from the frame are the wheels - Nuovo Records to Mavic MA40s. $125 on ebay and in unreal shape. Probably best wheelset I've ever ridden.

For me though best is I have legs of a Lego man with torso of a GI Joe figure and whoever originally had this frame made was just like me - 54cm c-t 56 tt - so I got a custom fit along with the 531 Reynolds. Sometimes I feel conflicted I've turned this incredible frame into a daily use bike, but I'm so happy riding it. Long wheelbase isn't best for weaving in NYC traffic, admittedly. I just enjoy riding this.

I work at Bicycle Habitat in NYC part time and a lot of love from smarter, wiser mechanics went into it. We built the (Campy) bottom bracket out of spare parts in a junk drawer. We also got a kick out of your WTF Townie this winter while pondering what people in bike shops did in winter before the Internet. Also, some of the gentlemen enjoyed your pics of bicycling ladies before having to close the browser windows.

Seriously though how did you take pics of that you're a goddamn ninja I was like four feet away?; April 4, 2011 at 1:49 PM
Unknown said...: With my bike nerdiness still being in the developing phase, trust me though it is on a fast track, why is this build up wonky? I think it's gorgeous. So please ... explain!; April 4, 2011 at 5:27 PM
Alan Sikirić said...: Aaron - It's funny you spotted your bike on here! I had a feeling the owner might see it when I was taking some snaps of it for some reason (G10). No worries about the build tho! It was just me having a similar reaction that people probably have when they see my townie - 'Oh nice, check this ou- wait, WTF?! hehe. It was just funny seeing all the period correct vintage campy and then yeah, some SRAM levers. Def very funky but I knew the owner was actually using the bike so things like that would be necessary. In any case man, enjoy that shit! Hope you can get those Paul brakes someday soon- shit is propah!; April 5, 2011 at 11:15 AM
Unknown said...: you might want to recheck your lock logic...looks like someone could steal your ride by just removing the rear wheel (and cutting off the front u-lock when they got it somewhere out of sight).; April 15, 2011 at 10:39 AM