Drop Everything! – Bike Snob NYC

It’s been just a little over two weeks since I took supply of the Roaduno, and as of final week I used to be in an excellent place with it:

I’d modified the tires, I’d put just a little tape on the bars, I’d gotten the two-speed drivetrain working, and I’d even added a elaborate new seatpost and leather-based ass-pedestal. It was comfortable, visually interesting, and working easily, and so I figured now I’d lastly cease tinkering with it.

However.

I’d gotten a field of goodies from Rivendell together with the Roaduno, together with this:

The Roaduno comes with the Choco bar–it’s the identical bar that was on my Homer once I first obtained it:

I just like the Choco very a lot. It’s obtained a pleasant upright hand place behind the brake lever, it’s obtained a pleasant sporty place forward of the brake lever, and it’s obtained a pleasant climbing-out-of-the-saddle place up entrance the place the bar curves and makes its method by the stem. I may simply trip the Choco bar fortunately ever after…but invariably on a road-ish sort bike I appear to revert to drop bars:

Moreover one being designed to be used as a singlespeed (or two- or three-speed) and one being designed to be used with a traditional geared drivetrain, the Roaduno and the Homer are very comparable–so comparable that you just may be questioning why somebody would need each a Roaduno and a Homer. Look, what can I let you know? We’re speaking about bikes right here, there’s no room for logic. Why do some folks need dinner after which dessert? Why do some folks need each a canine and a cat? Why do some folks need a townhouse and a rustic home? BECAUSE WE WANT TO LIVE, DAMN IT! As a result of we need to palp each final little bit of nectar from the flower of existence! As a result of we need to go balls-deep within the Jell-O! (Phrase to the smart: don’t eat the Jell-O.) As a result of some souls burn dimly, while others burn brightly–bonfires of inspiration that illuminate the world for these too timid to stoke their very own flame!

Additionally I just like the mustard shade.

Anyway, the rationale I point out they’re very comparable is that once I first obtained the Roaduno I figured I’d maintain the Choco bar on there to additional distinguish the 2 bikes. Additionally, I actually preferred it. However I saved eager about the drops, and so yesterday as I used to be heading out for a trip I discovered myself doubling again and swiftly beheading the bike:

Be aware that I’ve saved all the pieces collectively in order that I can swiftly reattach it if the temper strikes me.

Blood was spewing geyser-like from the steerer tube, so I rapidly stopped the bleeding by inserting a brand new stem:

That’s an outsized stem (or what’s now thought of only a normal-sized stem), and the bar is customary street diameter (or what’s now thought of undersized within the constantly-swelling world of bicycles, go determine, somebody please give the bike world an antihistamine), so I made up the distinction with the shims Rivendell had thoughtfully offered:

Subsequent I added the levers:

And earlier than I knew it I had myself a cockpit:

That was the straightforward half. The half I used to be fearful about was taping the bars. See, I nonetheless had some Newbaum’s left from my pathetic and ill-fated try at clothes up the Homer:

I wished to make use of the remainder of the roll, and this time I used to be decided to succeed, however I used to be nonetheless traumatized from the final time, once I’d made each mistake potential and was fortunate to get out of it with out getting Newbaum’s in my hair or by accident mummifying the cat:

[Nobody did Newbaum’s like the ancient Egyptians.]

So I went very slowly, and all was going effectively. I obtained one facet accomplished and it got here out fairly good. However then I started to expertise a extremely Rivendellian type of anxiousness when midway up the second facet of the bar it began to appear to be I would run out of material tape. With trepidation I rounded the bend, like a defenseless senior in a darkish alley, sure that every time across the bar could be my final:

Fortunately, just like the tiny little bit of oil that miraculously lit the menorah for eight days, so did my dwindling provide of tape wrap the whole thing of the bar. So shut was I to working out that once I reached the top of the bar there was nothing even left to chop. I then completed all the pieces in electrical tape, since if I can hardly handle a roll of Newbaum’s there’s no method I may deal with twine:

I’m certain I may have accomplished a greater job, however it’s going to get so dirty in every week or two it’s not gonna matter anyway:

And no, I’m not shellacking it–for the cat’s sake:

[Who hasn’t accidentally shellacked a cat at least once?]

Setting out for a trip, I used to be instantly happy:

Not solely do drops swimsuit the bike completely, however it seems the form of this specific bar–the Nitto 177 or so-called “Noodle”–looks as if perhaps it’s all the pieces it’s cracked as much as be:

This extremely favorable impression was under no circumstances diminished once I headed onto the path:

Whereas the Choco offers you that comfortable upright place and that pleasant backsweep, if you end up spending a variety of time together with your arms forward of the levers within the “sporty” place then you definitely don’t at all times have prepared entry to the brakes with out altering your grip. With drops it’s just about the alternative, and the brakes are at all times kind of at your fingertips–except you’re holding onto the tops, although usually you’re solely doing that whenever you’re tootling alongside and don’t want fast brake entry anyway (and in case you do you may at all times get these top-mount levers that have been in type for like three minutes):

Between the width and the consolation I believe that for many individuals the Choco could be the best bar for a motorcycle like this–particularly in case you by no means end up within the drops, which lots of people by no means do: