E's Bianchi CityCross
By daizee on 12/02/2006.
Bike tags: Single speed | Road bike | Mountain bike | Commuter | conversion singleator NYC
Bianchi Timber Wolf steel MTB frame 30.5" standover, {content} leftover from a tag sale
replaced lousy stock steel cockpit with nashbar threadless adapter, stem, TT bars, brake levers
stock
stock, armadillo 1.5" semi-slicks at ~70psi
replaced beaten freewheel and cogset with used freewheel and single 14t cog
nashbar alloy cranks replaced crappy rivited stock parts
Planet bike saddle (slowly softening) plus alloy seatpost
nashbar SPD pedals, stock chain, probably to be replaced soon
42:14 w/ surly singleator. a half-link won't quite fit with the old chain.
Click to view other photos
Bianchi Timber Wolf steel MTB frame 30.5" standover, {content} leftover from a tag sale
replaced lousy stock steel cockpit with nashbar threadless adapter, stem, TT bars, brake levers
stock
stock, armadillo 1.5" semi-slicks at ~70psi
replaced beaten freewheel and cogset with used freewheel and single 14t cog
nashbar alloy cranks replaced crappy rivited stock parts
Planet bike saddle (slowly softening) plus alloy seatpost
nashbar SPD pedals, stock chain, probably to be replaced soon
42:14 w/ surly singleator. a half-link won't quite fit with the old chain.
I got this bike 2nd or 3rd hand, and was never happy with it. The frame was decent from the factory, but the component build-out was pure economy. Over time I've replaced everything the rider touches, usually with on sale nashbar components and a few used bin items from my LBS. Last weekend I finally got rid of the grindy old freewheel and heavy cogset in favor of the near invisible freewheel and 14t cog in the pic. With that done, the chain tensioner doesn't bother me anymore, and this has become my favorite bike!
now it's fast and smooth. The high-pressure armadillo tires roll like a road bike, but soak up the NYC bumps well enough to get me to brooklyn and back in good weather. The 26" wheels accelerate well in traffic. I've grown quite fond of this frankenbike. Mountain frame, old school road bikeish geometry, rugged wheelset, city agile, 26lbs w/o kit bag. It has almost negated my lust for an IRO Rob Roy (but not quite).