Ploafmaster General

Today is windy—perhaps too windy for a good bike ride, and I don’t really have the time for a full ride anyway. But I needed to get more spinach, and I figured it wouldn’t be too bad heading out on my new-to-me-and-updated-by-me 1990 Trek Antelope 800. So I cruised against a 19mph headwind to Whole Foods. It was almost noon when I got back to the bike and I didn’t really want to go home yet, so off to The Cask why not? Overall I ended up with a little over 7 miles. I think a few changes are in order:

• I need to tilt the saddle up slightly given my riding position
• I would like to replace the tires with something fatter and maybe some TPU tubes for lighter rolling and comfort.
• I hadn’t quite tightened the stem enough, so near the end of the ride it kept tilting down slightly every time I hit the brakes! It’s fixed now. Ain’t budgin'.

Anyway, here’s what I’ve modded on this puppy:

• Nitto Technomic stem, 120mm, 26.0 clamp diameter
• Ron’s Ortho Bars from Crust
• Wolf Tooth Fat Paw grips
• Suntour Power Ratchet shifters (they are as awesome as people say)
• Suntour Radius front derailleur
• Shimano XTR M952 rear derailleur
• Cheapy Sunlite front rack with a Wald 1372 basket bolted down
• Those cute little Blue Lug front and rear lights that bolt on
• My resurrected Berthoud saddle, now with cro-mo rails
• 26.2 seat post from Velo Orange
• New Albion cranks, 42-26 with the chain guard removed (it looked a little goofy for this particular build)
• the cheap-o green plastic platform pedals I got when I bought my Space Horse back in 2023

I kept the Dia Compe brake levers because they look sweet and feel great, and for my first time setting up cantis, I think they stop my lard ass pretty well. I would maybe like a liiiiitle more range on the freewheel in the back, but damn if it doesn’t spin smooth. The wheels aren’t in the best shape, but they are true enough for these rim brakes, and they roll forever on their bearings. Overall this whole update process was terrific, and I think the build has largely been a success. I may still pursue a 650b conversion with the right set of v-brakes down the line, but I’m in no rush. This thing is fun to ride a fit for purpose (that purpose being chill rides over short distances).

Looking more like Carson Yearly these days tbh

Great day for #bikes; managed to get in a nice long ride AND get the front rack and basket installed on the old Trek.

The spicy chicken sandwich from Wawa is nose-runningly hot, and pretty tasty.

Ski mountaineering makes me think of cyclocross on snow. It kinda rules.

Got the front fender installed on my Space Horse. Gonna try to get the second one on there tomorrow morning if possible before the rain stops, and then I can test them out on the wet roads in the afternoon!

There’s a weird but kinda neat sensation that comes with applying a nice, waxy lip balm right before hopping on the #bike in cool weather. You can feel the wax set up in a slightly hardened, protective layer as the air moves over your face.

Nice brekkie at the start of the #bike ride from Julio’s.

Wow, I had no idea the concept of an Idaho Stop also applied to Audi drivers.

Okay, doubles luge is real silly.

Love watching all the #cheapbikebuildoff2026 YouTube stuff, but I guess Richmond (and within a 50 mile radius) just doesn’t have a good inventory of cheap old bikes. I really lucked out with the Trek I bought but it was in Fredericksburg. Or I’m looking in the wrong places?

The old Trek Antelope is nearly ready for its maiden voyage. Need to sort out storage for essentials in case of any mechanicals and see whether some assembly paste will keep Ron’s Ortho Bars from slipping in the stem 🙃

I always have something to say, but I rarely have anything to say.

Kicking off the work day by waxing a 7-speed chain. As you do.

Order from Blue Lug in Japan on Saturday. They ship on Sunday. It arrives on the Atlantic coast of the US on Wednesday!? $22 might not seem cheap for shipping, but I’ve paid that much for domestic shipping that wasn’t half as fast.

Twizzle me timbers!

Just took delivery of a pair of 1986 SunTour LD-4700 power ratchet shifters from eBay. Super hyped to throw these on the old Trek.

I usually do my grocery shopping on Sunday evenings, and my favorite grocery shopping of the year is on Super Bowl Sunday. Nothing quite like walking through a nearly empty store.

Blue Lug order en route = happy cyclist.

Visited the Moton Museum in Farmville with my family and my daughter’s Girl Scouts troop today. Excellent exhibit detailing some regional history of the Civil Rights struggle.

I just pre-ordered the Rivendell OM-1. I know I’ll be able to use it on some project in the future, but I also really believe in how Riv approaches #bikes, and I want to support them (with something I can actually use).

I love my kids, but thank Murphy Brown they’re going back to school tomorrow.

This morning my family was privileged to witness the early part of today’s leg of the Walk for Peace, since the monks were staying overnight right down the road from our house at Virginia Union University.

Suntour had electronic front shifting in 1991? And it was called “BEAST”!?

Hey, yes. You there. Don’t forget to watch all those videos about giving up your screens (and read this post about it) on your, uh. Your screen.