Langster

Greetings Readers!

I was spent this morning. After a hellacious day on Friday and a long day visiting my Dad in Chehalis yesterday I was wiped out. Zero motivation to get on the bike this morning. Morale was low. Mom was supposed to ride with me but her bum leg was bothering her and she opted out. So, I was solo, again. It took some prodding, but I drug my ass onto the bike and went out for a spin. Earlier in the week I had planned on doing 50 today, no way that was going to happen. We had some flippin’ wind this morning too, adding to my less than ambitious mood. All I wanted to do was hang out at the back of the pace line and suck wheel. Nope, I had to work out front by myself.

By the time I got to the end of Tile Flat I had had it. This wind sucks. I turned right and headed home. Now it’s not often I take the short way home, I’ve done that maybe twice in the last 9 years. I just wasn’t having that wind today, nope not happenin’.

After my ride I decided to go on down to RCB, and have a look at the Langster. I’ve long wanted a Single Speed and the right one just hasn’t came along. It’s hard to fit me on a stock bike, and after checking various geometry charts the Langster looked to be my starting point. Plus, I had a tight budget in mind and there just aren’t a whole lot of Single Speeds that fit those two criteria.

What sparked my interest was the city theme’s. The Langster had these cool variations, NY, London, Boston, and Seattle. I dug the NY and London bikes, but I fear they would just be too much temptation for a thief to pass up. Most likely I wouldn’t have one of them very long before being swiped. I thought the London bike looked really cool in person and I dug the track bars, but too much temptation for what my intended use is going to be. This is going to be an errand getter/commuter, and I’ll have to lock it up and turn my back on it. Don’t think that would be wise with the NY, Boston, or London.

I was after the non bling version, the basic Langster. And to my delight, they had a 2007 model left over from last year that I actually liked better paint wise, and was 10% cheaper. I rode it, dug it, and I am now the proud owner of my 1st Single Speed. I got it dirt cheap and I’m thrilled. Hell I’ve spent more on a set of wheels people than I did on my Single Speed!

My 2007 Langster, Bone stock.

They say you only need one……gear that is. Sugino Cranks, I was pretty happy bout’ that.

One cog, 16t. I love horizontal dropouts.

another side shot.

You forget just how stiff a Phat Aluminum BB can be, there’s no flexin’ going on here…

That’s it, my very 1st single speed, tomorrow I’ll throw a cheap computer on it (I’m anal about odometer mileage on my bikes) and I’ll start commuting on it Tuesday. I’m pretty stoked.

The knee is a little better (I think) I tested it today with some pretty hard big ring efforts up some pitches and it seems to be ok, well not ok, but at least I’m not limping like last weekend. I’m choosing the half full approach and assuming it’s going to gradually get better. I hope to get in some good riding this weekend. (I know it’s Sunday, and I’m already looking forward to next weekend) By then I’ll have another weeks commuting in and hopefully it will be even better.

Miles ridden today, 20

Miles ridden 2008, 1823.

Cheers!