Austin TX Bike Flavours
Mar 10, 2008 · 11:29 AM · permalink
I’m always fascinated when I discover that a town has a discernible “flavour” of bicycle. When I think of my home town in Florida, I think vintage Raleigh 3sp and Sears cruisers with metallic flake paint. I was in Austin over the weekend and I saw this seemingly casual bike that actually reveals a lot of thought.
For instance, the Shimano Nexus internally geared hub is definitely not authentic to the year of this Schwinn’s manufacture. The original wheels were probably 27in, since replaced with 700C alloy rim wheels with Conti Gatorskins. The change requires brakes with extra long reach, and this bike sports the recent Tektro dual pivot brakes which are making a lot of old beater frames with obsolete wheels viable again.
The Sugino Messenger cranks and Crank Bros pedals are a nice finishing touch. Gotta love the horse head too.
Don’t forget the Brooks Saddle in plastic. This is a high class Austin steed, that will never get stolen, but rides like the wind.
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