SKPC
Cruisin' on my Bluebird
Today I did my long loop up San Diego Creek and Sand Canyon in Irvine on the 1938/9 Shelby Flyer. I got it from a guy in Montana who found it as a frame/fork/stem/bars/crankset behind a barn. Not sure what it weighs, 30-something. It's old now and has a gazzillion miles but still dances around with eager abandon when standing and/or powered up same as when it came to be. A full rigid ride for perspective.
Rider Fit. This bike fits me with the long post. I'm tall, so I need leg extension but can adapt to the shortish reach and locked-in foot position knowing the overall benefit of stiff shoes and clipless pedals that give back. I just put on a new seat that I just got, taking a chance it would be comfortable and it was. 12.5" BB height, 43.5+ wheelbase, 70 head, 65 seat angles. A real good 4.25 on fit.
Moving out. The yellow bee feels quick and doesn't make any noise getting up to speed. The Sach indexing shifter, my favorite 3-spd shifter, is flawlessly smooth and predictable, unlike the klanky Sturmey triggers. Seat felt good straight away on the arse, I love these 23" wide original- to- the bike bars and they also stay out of the way of my knees. I had my hands basically in two different spots on them the entire ride, on the ends or a 1/2 grip forward. You are kinda locked into place on this machine and punished a bit if you try to move around too much. Feels fast and responsive. 4.5
Mechanical Highlights. This bike has nice wheels also. Just replaced another failed lower headset cup and crown race with a wider upgrade. Shelby headsets are crap imo. The wheels are not super light with the old Sturmey front drum brake and 515 Sachs, both 36 hole, but with respectable rotating weight and great braking power. I think I just serviced this front drum and it is very effective combined with the rear coaster 3-spd and in a panic stop it slows down fast. Curvy old Shimano road crankset with White Industries adjustable chromo BB with ceramic bearing upgrade. Synchros 46t ring. 18t cog. Gets a 4.5 spec.
Performance. I built this years ago with faster in mind. Even with the heavy hubs, the wheels are quick and are easy to keep spinning fast. I wish someone made some 650 gram, high pressure baldy skin-walls, but the Bontrager Hank is no longer. The Electra aftermarket tires aren't the lightest, (these may be around 1100 grams) but they do the job and are high pressure. I ran 50lbs. This bike dances around left and right when standing up and cranking powered up. 150mm wide seat stays out of the way and is easier to get on and off of quickly. Nothing on this bike flexes except the wheels and it is the stiffest of the bikes front to back. Stiff shoes and clipless is superior performance wise. It gives you a completely connected to the bike feeling, and confidence of knowing you will never blow off the pedal suddenly by accident. The old Shimano crankset does not flex, nor did the White BB spindle. Climbs well. 4.25 performance score.
Stealth Factor. As quiet as a mouse. The only sound was what the tires made and only the tread on pavement song. This bike is very smooth. I was thinking about words that best describe it and came up with "tight" and "silky". 4.5 Stealth score! Wowza.
Another great ride today on the full rigid Shelby Flyer Roadster. Longest test ride with the most climbing so far in the american metal shootout. I really like this bike. Makes me think about stuff that matters when rolling, like binary switches and life itself. Thanks for all the nice comments and following along on the rides. Keep riding Cabers!
Rider Fit. This bike fits me with the long post. I'm tall, so I need leg extension but can adapt to the shortish reach and locked-in foot position knowing the overall benefit of stiff shoes and clipless pedals that give back. I just put on a new seat that I just got, taking a chance it would be comfortable and it was. 12.5" BB height, 43.5+ wheelbase, 70 head, 65 seat angles. A real good 4.25 on fit.
Moving out. The yellow bee feels quick and doesn't make any noise getting up to speed. The Sach indexing shifter, my favorite 3-spd shifter, is flawlessly smooth and predictable, unlike the klanky Sturmey triggers. Seat felt good straight away on the arse, I love these 23" wide original- to- the bike bars and they also stay out of the way of my knees. I had my hands basically in two different spots on them the entire ride, on the ends or a 1/2 grip forward. You are kinda locked into place on this machine and punished a bit if you try to move around too much. Feels fast and responsive. 4.5
Mechanical Highlights. This bike has nice wheels also. Just replaced another failed lower headset cup and crown race with a wider upgrade. Shelby headsets are crap imo. The wheels are not super light with the old Sturmey front drum brake and 515 Sachs, both 36 hole, but with respectable rotating weight and great braking power. I think I just serviced this front drum and it is very effective combined with the rear coaster 3-spd and in a panic stop it slows down fast. Curvy old Shimano road crankset with White Industries adjustable chromo BB with ceramic bearing upgrade. Synchros 46t ring. 18t cog. Gets a 4.5 spec.
Performance. I built this years ago with faster in mind. Even with the heavy hubs, the wheels are quick and are easy to keep spinning fast. I wish someone made some 650 gram, high pressure baldy skin-walls, but the Bontrager Hank is no longer. The Electra aftermarket tires aren't the lightest, (these may be around 1100 grams) but they do the job and are high pressure. I ran 50lbs. This bike dances around left and right when standing up and cranking powered up. 150mm wide seat stays out of the way and is easier to get on and off of quickly. Nothing on this bike flexes except the wheels and it is the stiffest of the bikes front to back. Stiff shoes and clipless is superior performance wise. It gives you a completely connected to the bike feeling, and confidence of knowing you will never blow off the pedal suddenly by accident. The old Shimano crankset does not flex, nor did the White BB spindle. Climbs well. 4.25 performance score.
Stealth Factor. As quiet as a mouse. The only sound was what the tires made and only the tread on pavement song. This bike is very smooth. I was thinking about words that best describe it and came up with "tight" and "silky". 4.5 Stealth score! Wowza.
Another great ride today on the full rigid Shelby Flyer Roadster. Longest test ride with the most climbing so far in the american metal shootout. I really like this bike. Makes me think about stuff that matters when rolling, like binary switches and life itself. Thanks for all the nice comments and following along on the rides. Keep riding Cabers!
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