This entry is about Cindy's new bicycle. One of my more enjoyable winter projects has been to build up a mountain bike for Cindy. What that really means, is that I bought the frame several weeks ago, and then wasted way too much time trying to figure out which parts I should buy for it. Eventually, I ordered the whole mess from Tree Fort Bikes, in Ypsilanti, MI. This weekend, I finished putting the bike together.
In the photos below, the build is complete, with exception of the wheelset. Currently it's wearing the wheels from my Cannondale mountain bike. Cindy's wheels aren't here yet, but mine were available. That is only becuase my Cannondale frame was apparently defective. With luck, Cannondale will eventually be sending me a new frame. Until then, the whole bicycle, sans frame and wheelset, sits in a box in our basement. However, this is not that story. This entry is about the Superlight.
Cindy's Superlight is a 2006ish model, size small. The fork is a Rock Shox Reba Race, that was apparently installed on a factory-built bike but was never sold or used. So it's a couple years old, but new. The rest of the stuff on it is new. Although the model name is Superlight, it's only moderately light: as you see it here, it's 28.0 pounds. It's likely that it will lose about another pound once we mount it's own wheels, as the wheels from my bike are pretty hefty. Who would buy a bike called "Moderatelylight??"
It seems to be a pretty good fit for Cindy. She doesn't have quite as much standover clearance as she has on her old Scott hardtail, but that is, in part, the nature of a dual suspension bike.
Cindy is already nursing her first injury from crashing on the Superlight. We were in the driveway, playing with the suspension and taking pictures, and somehow she and the bike fell onto her knee. I was useless: I stood two feet away and did nothing. I'm sorry, Cindy.
By the way, that little red strap on the down tube just below the head tube? That's to protect the frame from the knob on the right side of the fork crown. I was disappointed to discover that the knob will hit the frame when the wheel is turned 90 degrees right. The red strap is a temporary cusion. We'll need to come up with a more permanent solution to keep the fork from hitting and damaging the frame. It's probably going to be a small strap that gets tight when the wheel is turned about 80 degrees, and then a rubber bumper on the frame as backup to the strap. Any other suggestions?
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