Additional to yesterday’s publish, I’ve been pondering the Spinergy Rev-X:
One factor I’ve been considering is that I’m one of many world’s foremost critics of carbon fiber…
…and but right here I’m driving not simply any carbon wheel, however one infamous for failing spectacularly.
On the identical time, I’m additionally questioning how a lot of the repute of the Rev-X is deserved, and the way a lot of it’s as a result of the wheel has attained a self-perpetuatingly hyperbolic “city fable” standing. Like, are they actually that harmful? Take into account for instance that in the course of the period of Peak Fixie numerous individuals have been driving round on Spinergys they most likely purchased used from Cat 4 “racers” who had executed Lob-knows-what to them, and but I by no means heard of a mass casualty incident:
This regardless of all of the barspinzzz and elephant trunk skids that have been so fashionable throughout that period:
And sure, I notice that’s an Aerospoke, however nonetheless. Additionally, at the least a few of these riders have been taking precautions:
I joked yesterday about “beating off” my axle; this appears like what would occur should you took that actually.
Thankfully, there’s a simple approach to keep away from worrying whether or not your 30 year-old Spinergy of questionable provenance goes to carry up or not, and that’s to journey a regular fucking wheel. However because the Basic Cycle Outdated Crap Take a look at Pilot it’s recumbent upon me to, uh, test-pilot outdated crap, and something much less can be a dereliction of obligation on my half.
Talking of fixies, not since The Nice Divestiture have I had a kind of, or certainly any type of singlespeed* bicycle, having handed alongside my monitor bike:
And my fancy singlespeed mountain bike:
And my low cost singlespeed mountain bike:
Wait, I’ll have gotten these final two backwards.
*[I actually still have enough frames and crap stored away to build at least two singlespeed bicycles, but that doesn’t count.]
So will that change? Is a brand new singlespeed within the offing? I dunno. However because it occurs, the presale for the newest Rivendell singlespeed begins immediately at 12pm (that’s Californy time), and right here’s extra about it:
And no, no one at Rivendell got here to me and stated, “Inform individuals in regards to the presale!” If something, like each different bike firm, Rivendell would most likely favor I by no means point out them in any respect.
Anyway, it comes with these components:
And Rivendell being Rivendell it’s designed to facilitate a 2×1 or 3×1 drivetrain, due to course it’s:
And it simply so occurs I nonetheless have a complete field of derailleurs from the Basic Cycle twenty first Century Friction Shifter Shootout:
Nicely two of them are at present in use, however the others are prepared for deployment as potential chain-tensioners, and I can’t consider a greater instance of each irony and conspicuous consumption than utilizing a surfeit of derailleurs as an excuse to acquire a flowery new singlespeed bicycle.
(It’s additionally arguably price it simply to make use of it with a entrance Spinergy, although I’m guessing barspins are out of the query.)
In addition they know precisely tempt the retro-tinkerers and outdated crap fanatics:
You learn that and mind says, “Why the hell would I do this when I’ve a wonderfully good Homer?,” however your physique begins rummaging in an imaginary components bin like a canine having a dream:
If solely I may let sleeping canine lie…however I can’t, and that’s the way you wind up driving round on a pink Faggin with Spinergys.