cruzmissle
June 18th, 2005, 9:33 PM
[Apologies for those who have already seen this post on MTBR]
I can't imagine that the history is all that interesting, but here it is anyway (at least a brief version): Back in the summer of '90 I lived incredibly frugally in order to save money to buy my fantasy ride, a Wicked Fat Chance. I remember jokingly trying to justify the then-absurd-seeming expense by telling myself that it was a bike I would ride for ten years. That turned out to be true, as it was my primary bicycle -- mountain bike racing, touring, epic vacations, groceries -- until I replaced it with a dualie in 2001.
For the last several years my pace of bicycle accumulation has increased, but I haven't been able to shake the nostalgic soft spot that I have for the old Fat. From 2001-2004 it was seeing duty only as a touring bike and the bike I would ride off-road when friends borrowed my more modern rides (it was interesting how, on those rides, I'd have more fun than I was having on the Blur). Last summer I became interested in singlespeeding, and my attention was naturally drawn to the Wicked. I had an ENO hubbed rear wheel built up and started riding single speed basically full time. The ancient steel rig behaved so well, was so familiar, was so reassuring, and generated grins so reliably, that there looks to be no turning back.
The thing is, by six months ago the Wicked was looking pretty worn. The original Blue/Purple fade was long gone, replaced by an inexpensive powdercoat done in the middle 90's. In the grip of enthusiasm, I decided to have it repainted. Having long admired his work and having met Carl of Vicious Cycles, I sent it to him in February. My giddy request: Holstein Cow. You'll recall that this paint scheme had a kind of cult following in the late 80's by some New Englanders and Colorado folks, and I always envied them.
I just got the bike back (quality takes time, I gather) and I'm ecstatic beyond good sense. In my view, Carl did an incredible job, from the spots to the udder to the glossy lustre to the decal set. Rather than go for a restoration, I have a Mavic cartridge bb, ENO ss crankset, carbon bars and other modern bits to build it up with. The thing is, though, if it's built up, I might ride it, and it might get dirty, or, perish the thought, nicked. Oh, the quandry!
Cruzmissle
I can't imagine that the history is all that interesting, but here it is anyway (at least a brief version): Back in the summer of '90 I lived incredibly frugally in order to save money to buy my fantasy ride, a Wicked Fat Chance. I remember jokingly trying to justify the then-absurd-seeming expense by telling myself that it was a bike I would ride for ten years. That turned out to be true, as it was my primary bicycle -- mountain bike racing, touring, epic vacations, groceries -- until I replaced it with a dualie in 2001.
For the last several years my pace of bicycle accumulation has increased, but I haven't been able to shake the nostalgic soft spot that I have for the old Fat. From 2001-2004 it was seeing duty only as a touring bike and the bike I would ride off-road when friends borrowed my more modern rides (it was interesting how, on those rides, I'd have more fun than I was having on the Blur). Last summer I became interested in singlespeeding, and my attention was naturally drawn to the Wicked. I had an ENO hubbed rear wheel built up and started riding single speed basically full time. The ancient steel rig behaved so well, was so familiar, was so reassuring, and generated grins so reliably, that there looks to be no turning back.
The thing is, by six months ago the Wicked was looking pretty worn. The original Blue/Purple fade was long gone, replaced by an inexpensive powdercoat done in the middle 90's. In the grip of enthusiasm, I decided to have it repainted. Having long admired his work and having met Carl of Vicious Cycles, I sent it to him in February. My giddy request: Holstein Cow. You'll recall that this paint scheme had a kind of cult following in the late 80's by some New Englanders and Colorado folks, and I always envied them.
I just got the bike back (quality takes time, I gather) and I'm ecstatic beyond good sense. In my view, Carl did an incredible job, from the spots to the udder to the glossy lustre to the decal set. Rather than go for a restoration, I have a Mavic cartridge bb, ENO ss crankset, carbon bars and other modern bits to build it up with. The thing is, though, if it's built up, I might ride it, and it might get dirty, or, perish the thought, nicked. Oh, the quandry!
Cruzmissle