Redline Rescue - The Result

The Redline has been rescued. The final cost is $329 and I could have got it under $300 if I had done more of the work myself and not splurged on a cool tire changing tool, but I thought the hub work and bottom bracket was a good investment. As for the tool, it was just a cool idea and I'm no weight weenie. I had two goof ups. I bought a 22" bar (did mm conversion in my head) from BackCountry, I want 25" (which has been ordered) and I got single sided cleats (more like road cleats) because I didn't look close at the picture on E-bay. Otherwise I'm very happy about what I learned and how it turned out (is that kinda sick to be happy with a rigid single speed when you have a full-suspension 27 speed?).  Here are the stats:

Redline Monocog 19" Bike - $25
Redline Rigid Fork - $60
Avid Pull Brake (rear) - came with fork
YMID Bike Seat - $10
Magura Hydraulic Front Brake - Free (thanks James)
ZChain - $10
Clips - $7
BBB Stem $12
BBB Bar $12
Specialized Lock-on Grips - no charge (from old bike)
New front rim to lace to hub/spokes $25
Specialized Pro 26x2 front tire - no charge (from old bike)
Bottom Bracket $25
Quick Release $5
Spacers $6
Two Tubes - $10
Rim Insert - $1
Origin8 tool $16 (splurge)
Shop Labor $63 (no I didn't do it all, I wasn't going to lace the spokes or do the bottom bracket - thanks Corvallis Cyclery)
Shipping $42

Total $329

Running 39x18 which = 56.3 inches with a gear roll-out of 4.492
Weight - 23.6 lbs.

Before

After

Redline Rescue Update - Buying Parts

The Redline Rescue project is under way.  I started with 6 bikes and I have sold 5 of them.  All to people who love bikes.  Two even to the guys at Corvallis Cyclery who want to use them for Bike Polo mounts.  In going through them, I found that one is a 19" frame (the rest are 17").  So in the picture below, you see the "Before" picture.  The second photo is the Redline stripped down. 

What have I learned so far?  First, that it is easier to tear down that to build up.  Second, that I don't know much about how bikes are built. Let me illustrate, the goal of the Redline Rescue is to build a single speed as cheap as possible, but not with cheap parts.  What I've learned is that parts don't always go together.  For example, I ordered a new stem for $12 and a new wide bar for $7.  When both arrived, the stem is the 1.5" and the bar 1".  It was cheaper to get a second bar at $12, but it wasn't as wide as the first.  The fork arrived about 1" longer.  So the next lesson is head sets and spacers. I also picked up a new chain and a good friend gave me a set of disk brakes after cleaning out his garage.  Finally, I picked up a set of SPD pedals from eBay, but they turned out to be older and with cleat access on one side.  I didn't know they made those and it wasn't clear in the description (so I'm still learning).  I'll keep you posted.

Before

Frame Only

The "Redline Rescue" Project - The Beginning

 First, from the start, let me state that I am not a bike mechanic, but I love to ride and I love proejcts (they generally mean new tools).

I give you that as back ground to my "Redline Rescue Project". A few weeks ago while staying at a vacation house in Newport Oregon (on the coast) I learned that the house was being "sold" (note foreclosed) on. As I was leaving after my stay, I looked in the garage and saw six Redline single speed monocog bikes 26" mountaing bikes. They had been "road hard and put away wet." Rusty chains, sand, etc. I contacted the owner and asked what he was going to do with them, he didn't have any idea, so on the spot I said, I'll take them (in the Old Man's bike club, there are three Redline 29'rs, one single and two 9's). He sold them for $25 each. I just couldn't see them get thrown away.

Now once I got them home, at first wondered if I have paid to much, but they have great bones. My goal is to restore at least one for me (and maybe one for my wife). Plus, I have already "sold" two of them (for $25 each) to two of the "Old Men" who want to "restore" them also.

First thing is the "strip down" and I "collected" my first part from e-bay (see the "fork" picture).  My goal is to build it as "cheap" as possible, but not with cheap parts (I've already been offered a front disk break for the new fork).  We'll see how it goes as I learn to become a "wrencher" and I'll keep posting updates on what I'm learning.

Planet Bike Customer Service

Mountain Biking is now becoming a "larger" community, but we are still about supporting each other (which is not the same thing I've heard from the Roadie side).  This is even true of the manufactures, shops, and vendors we love to support. But we are also a loyal group, loyal to those who understand this sense of community.  Take Planet Bike (http://www.planetbike.com/page/) for example.  I love their wired bike computer (I know, I'm old school by not going wireless) that tells the temperature, along with everything else, plus a very affordable price (I have one on each of my bikes).  One of the computers is about two years old now, and after the first year it stopped registering speed if I changed screens.  I figured I had gone over the handlebars one to many times and if I didn't touch it worked fine.  At this time I bought a second bike and another Planet Bike computer.  After about 8 months it also stopped registering speed.  I was about to purchase a 3rd when I thought I would send an e-mail to Planet Bike support.  The tech support person replied that it sounding like a wiring issue, was surprised that I was having problems, and sent me two new wiring kits in the mail (they arrived in about 3 days).  I was pleased and amazed at how positive that experience was. No third degree, no did you try this, or ship it back, or anything like that.  Just I'm sorry you are having an issue, and I think I can help solve it.

That experience, like going to Les Schwab for a flat makes me "loyal for life" to Planet Bike, because (true or not) I feel they care about me and understand the (mountain) bike community.  Now, on a recent night ride, only two other people showed up, and I related this experience as we climbed, and to my surprise (or not) both riders also shared similar Planet Bike experiences.  One pointed to his pump and the other said, "see what gloves I'm wearing, I try to get all my stuff from them because of their customer service."  That's 100% customer satisfaction.  That's what builds customer loyalty, it is more than just selling a product (there are lots of people who can sell you something), but taking care of the customer that matters.  I wish more places, manufactures, and some bike shops understood that concept (and community).

Thanks Planet Bike.

The McKenzie in February

Oregon is having one of the mildest winters on record.  There has been very little snow in the mountains, while it has been raining, it has been warm.  As such the mountain biking has been great.  For example, two weeks ago I road the top half of the McKenzie Trail from Trailbridge to the falls as an up and back.  I left Corvallis at 5:30 a.m. and was riding before 7:30.  Clear blue sky, about 34 degrees and no snow anywhere.  The trail was in perfect shape.  I got back to the car about 9:45a.m. not really tired because it was so much fun.  Now there are places that claim you can ride year round, but do you really go riding when it's 110 degrees, at least in Willamette Valley that statement is true.  Year round, any time of day or night.  Here are a few shots of a perfect February morning.

At the Falls

At the "Blue Pool"

Now there was some snow.  After the ride I went up to Hoodo with the kids from Church and road the Autobahn tube park they have.  It was a blast and a great family activity.  I think the ticket was $12 and you can walk or they have a rope tow to take you to the top each time.

The "real" C2C Trail Update - Summer Building Classes

Here is the update from  Gary Chapman, C2C Chairman regarding summer trail building classes:

Hi,

I am passing along the email below to let you know the status of this year's trail training workshops. These courses are free and generally target people and groups who do trail work along the Pacific Crest Trail and connecting trails. Our C2C people have been taking the courses so that they are better able, and National Forest certified, to do work on the Corvallis-to-the-Sea Trail when we get approval in a couple of years.

If you'd like to learn about doing trail work, these classes are a fun and effective way of doing so. I believe I have previously announced the dates of the three sessions: April 16-18 for the Trail Keepers of Oregon session; May 14-16 for the Willamette National Forest session at Westfir; and June 4-6 for the Deschutes National Forest session at Allingham. Check them out and see if they don't pique your interest.

There are several year's worth of training courses so now is a good time to get started on the 100 series courses and then move up to the 200 series. No grades here except if you are seeking saw certifications; for this you need to demonstrate a necessary level of knowledge and proficiency.

It's a great opportunity.

Gary....

Here's Paul's e-mail:

The PCTA/HCFV partnership training events will be open for registration on Feb 15th via this link: http://www.highcascadesvolunteers.com/ Some corrections have been made to the Westfir schedule to include a cross-cut certification class on Sat. (this will fill up FAST, so get your registration in early if you need to use a cross-cut) and to make the sequence of the 100 series more logical for a newbie. There seem to be an incredible number of requests for chain saw certification. This is being offered once at Westfir but four times at Allingham. At Allingham, saw RE-certification is being handled differently with some sessions requiring an 8hr stint and others only 4hrs. Registration at Allingham is also handled differently; you generally indicate which courses you wish to take and the organizers will tell you which session you will be taking on what day. Effectively, you have to commit to the entire weekend at Allingham. As a side note, I will be teaching a Tools Care workshop on Friday evening and a short tutorial on the correct care of F.S. radios during the PCT Stewardship workshop on Sat evening. Both at Westfir only. An alternative to Westfir and Allingham is the TKO trails college at Cascade Locks. You can sign-up for an e-mail when their registration opens here: http://www.trailkeepersoforegon.org/one/

I will be teaching the Tools workshop sometime that weekend.
Paul Martin Smith
PCTA Trail coordinator - Mid Oregon
paulmartinsmith2004@yahoo.co.uk
541 207 3255

Mountain Bikers are tougher

In the March issue of MTA they did a test between a road biker and a mountain biker.  They pitted Burry Stander against Andy Schleck.  They each did a 7.4 mile pavement climb and a 5.5 mile single-track climb and then combined the times.  Burry road time was less than a minute behind Andy's at 36:29.8 and then beat Andy by almost 10 minutes on the dirt climb with a time of 36.39.  On paper at least it looks like mountain bikers are better riders than roadies, but who knows.  Todd Tye who does both feels that a mile on the mountain bike equals three+ on the road (but he also has a heart rate in the 40's).  I can hear the roadies now "how does this thing shift, why are the tires so wide with bumps, and what are those siny discs on the wheels for?"