A Very Clean 2019: Retrospective

[Clean39T]

Compared to 2017 and 2018, this has been quite a calm year for this bike churner ...but it is still fun to look back at what's been. 2020 is going to be even slower yet - a return to normalcy, if there is such a thing.

So here goes, in somewhat chronological order - the ones that I actually built up and rode (there were a couple more that were DOA).

Started the year with a PinkBike pickup, a Serotta CSI in 62L that came to me with Record 8spd in beautiful condition. I rode it like that for a bit, then swapped out to Record 11spd and more modern stuff. It was an excellent bike and a lot of fun to enjoy before passing forward to another Paceliner.




Then came a Seven Axiom SLX. Another beautiful frameset, but one that was just entirely too stiff for my somewhat slender self. It also went to a Paceliner who is enjoying it now and fits its build more appropriately.



Next up was another Ti machine, also off eBay - a Litespeed T1SL. It was a full-on race fit for me, and a lot of fun to ride fast. The racing bug didn't bite though and I was left feeling unsure about the utility of it, so I let it go.



Around the same time I was experimenting with this Spectrum Ti Rando that I picked up from JR59 (that was previously in Kirk007s garage). It was an excellent, incredible ride, and beautiful to look at. I'm not really sure why I got a bug to sell it. I must have had my eye on something else - a gravel build, or maybe just feeling the need to clear space with an impending move that ended up not happening. In any event, it found a great home across the pond, so it's all good.



And then there was this Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross. I bought it when I realized my Rock Lobster wasn't going to be done in time for the gravel events I had scheduled, so it was kind of just a placeholder. Once I saw how nicely it rode though, I kind of regretted getting the Lobster done - this BMC would have been just fine on its own. I rode it in a couple gravel races and really loved the feel of the frame, and the Campy build on it. It was moved along though when the Lobster was nearing completion.



This Battaglin Power+ I picked up from Bici-Sonora, who ordered it from Battaglin during their 2018 winter sale. It was the first one I saw that was in the XL range I needed. It was an incredibly fun bike to ride and came with me on a trip to AZ, but I found myself overloaded on projects and let it go down to CA where it lives now.



I had a brief encounter with this C50 that came to me super cheap from Texbike after he snagged it at a silly price off eBay. I rode it a couple times, then passed it forward to a local Paceline friend at the same screaming-deal price. It was another one that was a lot of fun to build and ride. The hype is real.



This Allied Alfa may be the best looking bike I put together in 2019. Another eBay pickup that was a blast to rip around on - so light, so fast.. Like the T1SL though, I just kept searching for a reason why I needed a light/fast bike when not racing. Maybe I should have kept it. Probably so. MUSA carbon, great paint. Yeah, shoulda woulda.



This Trek Procaliber 9.7 RSL I shoulda kept - just because of the build and the value in it. I got it dirty a few times, then rented a trail bike and saw how much fun a slack'r dual-squish is to ride. So this one went up for sale - I should have held onto it though, or at least parted it out and kept some things. I kind of didn't realize how fancy some of the parts were on it and sold it really cheap (though didn't really lose much all told).



Lastly, at least as far as my "no longer with me" builds for the year go, we have this Serotta Design Studios Duetti. I figured it'd make a good travel bike for me with the ETap and matte finish. Unfortunately it got damaged in shipping. Fortunately, insurance came through enough to keep me mostly whole on it, and the eBay seller held up his end and jumped through the hoops to make that happen. The frameset is now headed to CA to be repurposed, and the wheels are going to be backups for my Ellis.



PART 1 - CONT'd below..

[Clean39T]

Part II...

And that brings us up to where we are today, with the remainder of these ones still being in my garage...

Firefly #417 - came to me via PinkBike and I did more or less a complete tear-down and rebuild on it. I love this bike and it fits me pretty perfectly for a somewhat aggressive race-type position. I still struggle a bit with justifying its place here - I don't race and really am happy riding my Kirk anywhere that I ride this one. But it is just so dang sweet, I can't bring myself to part with it. We'll see if that sticks once some life changes happen in the next 1-3 months (moving, downsizing). If it stays longer term, I want to get the titanium Firefly bits for it, and go with some gold anodizing on them - replacing the "i" with a gold one, and doing a post, stem, collar, cages, and head badge with matching accents.



Kirk MRB - choosing a pic here of it from one of my happiest days on the bike in 2019. I took it along on a business trip to central WA and spent three days riding it all over the place, up to a ski resort, over to a german tourist trap town, touring the apples and cherries, etc. This is simply the best bike I've ever owned or ridden, and if I had to only have one for the next forever, it'd be this.



Rock Lobster Monstercross Canti - I'm still figuring out where this fits and what I want to do with it. The original reason I commissioned it has kind of come and gone. But it is still an excellent bike, and if I move to the dry side of the state, it'll be a perfect dirt-road tourer and gravel'er. I hope to finally get it out for some test rides once the weather improves and see where it goes from there.



Ellis Modern Classic Disc - I'm still gelling with this one too and working to finish it off. It is the fanciest bike I've ever owned and the level of detail on the build is just incredible. I'm finishing off building it out with a GRX group and am going to keep it 650b, hopefully with some fenders squeezed in for the wet months. It will most likely get replaced this coming year with a custom Strada Fango from Dave that would be more of a bikepacking setup with 29x2.1s and a mountain group on it. I have a deposit down, just have to let some other things in life settle before moving forward with that..



And finally, on deck, a 2019 Scott Spark 700 Tuned is headed my way. This is the replacement for the Trek and a compromise between XC and Trail. It will come with 27.5+, but also takes 29x2.4. I chose to go with this instead of the EVIL Following I had on order just because of the versatility and in expectation that I'm going to do a mix of dirt riding in 2020. The 27.5+ should be good for loose conditions in Central OR and the 29 setup should be efficient enough for doing some XC marathon type stuff. That's the goal anyway. And I guess the other reason is that the closeout pricing on this one was a lot more attractive.

[Hilltopperny]

Great stuff Dan! Happy new year and I think that is still one great stable of bikes you ended up with!


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[Clean39T]

Originally Posted by Hilltopperny

Great stuff Dan! Happy new year and I think that is still one great stable of bikes you ended up with!


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Yes indeed, I think my goal garage though is this:

(1) Kirk MRB w current build
(2) Kirk Onesto JKS w DA Di2 Rim Brakes
(3) Ellis Strada Fango Bikepacker/Graveler/Tourer w Disc GRX Di2
(4) Trail/XC MTB (might be the Scott, we'll see)

[Hilltopperny]

Originally Posted by Clean39T

Yes indeed, I think my goal garage though is this:



(1) Kirk MRB w current build

(2) Kirk Onesto JKS w DA Di2 Rim Brakes

(3) Ellis Strada Fango Bikepacker/Graveler/Tourer w Disc GRX Di2

(4) Trail/XC MTB (might be the Scott, we'll see)

Can’t go wrong with that! I have a buddy with a less bling version of the Scott and he gives it high praise.


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[joosttx]

Super cool. love your bikes!

[Clean39T]

Originally Posted by Hilltopperny

Can’t go wrong with that! I have a buddy with a less bling version of the Scott and he gives it high praise.


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The Scotts rate really highly - supposedly light and capable - we'll see how the 27.5 thing goes I guess.. They no longer offer it, but have essentially the same bike with 29 wheels on it now. I got it on closeout from Piermont - should be here soon..

As for the rest, I guess I need to get in DK's queue and make that happen in 2020 - mid/late year so I have some time to save up.

[Hilltopperny]

Originally Posted by Clean39T

The Scotts rate really highly - supposedly light and capable - we'll see how the 27.5 thing goes I guess.. They no longer offer it, but have essentially the same bike with 29 wheels on it now. I got it on closeout from Piermont - should be here soon..



As for the rest, I guess I need to get in DK's queue and make that happen in 2020 - mid/late year so I have some time to save up.

I picked up my Bad Habit Carbon 1 and really like the 27.5 2.8s on the local trail. Very confidence inspiring even for a novice like myself. With the right pressure they felt like Velcro.


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[shinomaster]

wow, I really liked that CSI and your Battaglin

[commonguy001]

Always a drool worthy list, I sure wish I was a couple inches taller when you post them.

[Spaghetti Legs]

Nice work; my favorite is the Serotta - I’m a sucker for steel and green!

I admire your ability to let a good bike go. That is a serious weakness of mine.

[madsciencenow]

Enjoyed the read, Dan. It seems that as the years pass you have a clearer idea of what you like and what works. I hope this doesn’t mean that next years thread will be any less interesting.


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[dbh]

Great recap. For my bank account's sake, really glad I'm not your size.

[Morgul Bismark]

I really enjoy reading this post and the ones in years past. The shear variety and quality of the builds alone is impressive.

Also, I'll agree with those that are glad we're not your size. I'd have a hard time passing some of these up when/if they came to market. Thank goodness I'm 52.

[Andy sti]

Love your selection! Such great bikes.

For 2020 we will get some rides in.