New wheels, new wheels

[ninevirtues]

I think I will inadvertently learn to be a bike mechanic. I want to road race, and my fancy-schmancy triathlon bike has handlebars that make it illegal for road racing, so I will use my faithful old Trek 2120 (bought with a bonus for project completion from Apple in approximately 1999).

The only problem: It is heavy. I think it was around 23 pounds or so. (My competitors will likely be riding bikes that weigh 17-18lbs.) One road racing clinic (where I lasted halfway through the Sunday ride; me, the rabid cyclist--!) was all it took to convince me that it was upgrade time.

Digression: I do not know why it is that weight taken off the bike feels so much more effective than weight taken off yourself. When I say that I'm trying to replace components and reduce bike weight, though, I have had people say, "The cheapest place to save some weight is with a DIET."

It really galls me when people say that. With any female athlete, there is a 100% chance that she has been on a diet, will be on a diet, or currently IS on a diet. Furthermore, there is a 100% chance that her weight is a sensitive subject. And in endurance sports (like cycling), where weight is a real consideration, the pressure to be light can be considerable.

After thinking about it, I came up with the best way to deal with someone who says that: I'll look shocked and dismayed, and ask (somewhat tremulously) "Do you really think I need to lose weight?"

(I'm about 12% body fat these days. The right answer to that is clearly "no.")

Every guy on the planet will recognize that as Dangerous Territory, and with luck, they'll get back to the business of selling me or helping me install lighter bike parts after that. ;-)

Now, I'll get back to the subject of lighter bike parts. How to accomplish this economically?

EBay.

My first purchase was lighter wheels. I am still ecstatic at the tiny amount I paid for nice wheels, and adding them to my bike reduced it to 18.5 pounds.

Next was used speedplay pedals (the pedals that were on there are not kind to my knees).

After this.... the bottom bracket (place the pedal cranks are attached to, for our listeners at home) is pretty worn out. When you hold the bike up so the back wheel should spin freely, and put pressure on the pedal, the pedals should spin freely also (or so I'm told). It does not. Presto, the bottom bracket is worn out.

Someone at the bike shop has a garage full of bikes and parts, and has offered to give me (!) an Ultegra bottom bracket plus some other stuff. Oh, boy! I think I will make him cookies. Learning to install it should be educational too.