Jeff and Martha’s Bikes -2 – Out Your Backdoor

Jeff and Martha’s Bikes

(most of them anyway)

1985 Atala Pro. I got this due to a rare chance, on my birthday ’04 ($350). What a dialed-in, quick-handling ride! It’s not harsh at all, but the front end flows like it’s liquid. It loves to turn, yet is stable enough. It disappears under you, yet is oh-so-pretty. Italian genius. It now sports Vittoria CX sewup wheels for the sport rides it’s destined for.

It got this ’93 RB1 also, on another rare chance, on my same birthday! ($300) It has fighter-jet style with a comfy ride. It likes to go straight. I took it out to the Bay Area in the mountains, where it loved diving into corners with rock-steadiness. You don’t have to turn the bars to dive. Seems designed for long days in big hills. Very secure, but less expressive than the Atala. STI is kinda neat but makes for a front-end “sway-heavy” feel. It could be good as the dual-mode bike that is all I really need: 1 bike, 2 sets of wheels (one plump, one sporty).

Yet another new bike! ’74 Paramount P-10. My brother got this for me on campus. A Critical Mass kid was bashing it around for classes, but knew it deserved better. It was rusty with kicked-in rear wheel, flat front. The kid sold it on the condition that I also give a sizeable donation to the college bike project, which I did. Thank heavens it cleaned up. It now has longer stem, better saddle. I’m liking the 38cm narrow bars: it handles divinely from the stem/headset zone. 42″ wheelbase. Cushy, yet possibly also dual-mode.

Para Lugs

1982 Trek 614. Lugged steel frame handmade in U.S. My all-weather errand machine! (I’ll install rack soon.) The ride of this bike compares very favorably with my other fancier steeds and just might end up the best all-rounder. I’m going to install regular bars and see what happens. This summer’s bike showdown will likely result in one bike (with 2 wheelsets) that I ride all the time. So maybe I’ll sell off the others! (Gulp!) Below, a close-up of the classy bottom-bracket cable guides—nicer than my other bikes and most bikes out there. Sorry about the dirt. (I since cleaned it.)

1991 full-suspension lowracer recumbent (with tool/spares kit in Rivendell musette behind seat). It has a 700c rear wheel with 66×10 big gear. Oh yeah! The 3 different ways that I ride it can be switched between in less than 5 minutes and are shown as follows. They’re all cool. First: naked lowracer: I averaged 24 in a crit once this way (the first time I rode it!). Next: fully-faired: I can cruise at 40mph—with a trunk for groceries (another guy got it to 53mph on the flat in this mode). Last: head-out canopy: I can average 27 on twisty, hilly terrain with this rig (there’s cargo space in there, too).

Modelling my canvas-front cold weather riding jacket. Breathable, perfect. Attractive. (Note homemade light from copper plumbing and big battery ‘coffin’ on rack. Dog, what dog?)

Early 80’s Cannondale. Martha (the patient, saintly fabric artist) hauls kids, groceries and mail with this every day. She’s now strong and fast!

Early 80’s Pro Miyata. My old bike. It now has a spring saddle and upright bars and is Martha’s sport bike. A bit too tattered to make a good showing for retro bike style. 100+ races and 20 years of riding on this stout charger!