Component Fetish
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23 Responses to “Component Fetish”
And then there are the components you didn’t even know were a fetish object. The Intertubes tell me the early 70s Suntour Cyclone “Black Swan” rear derailleur I intend to put back on a bike one of these days is a rare “limited production” collector’s item. I guess I’ll have to shift very carefully to avoid harming its market value.
Wow, clean components. I have been using fine steel wool to clean up an old schwinn suburban project for my wife. Can you recommend a product to shine things up a bit?
Hello, new desktop backgrounds
Wait a minute, I’m drooling now.
Wow. Serious bike lust is what I’m feelin’.
Great pictures. :)
Holy hell! Those pictures are spectacular. What I want to know is how you got such a shallow depth of field is what looks like a sunny day.
Good ole naval jelly helps remove the rust and keep those old parts looking new again. I’m cleaning up a 70′s Peugeot mixte for my wife.
I second the “clean components” comment. Wow! I am too ashamed to post a picture of my Rivendell’s drivetrain until he gets a good shower.
My biggest fetish buy so far has been a Nitto bottle cage, like the one in your shot. The price is downright decadent, but it is so darn sexy!
@Steve
“What I want to know is how you got such a shallow depth of field is what looks like a sunny day.”
Hey Steve,
I was shooting close-in with a 60mm macro on a APS-C crop body (essentially a 100mm macro). Even so, some of the exposures were at 1/1250 – 1/1600.
Thanks for the kind words…
Alan
I didn’t use to care about specific components like that, but now that I’ve become more familiar with bikes, I do now, and as I accumulate bikes and bike parts, I find myself constantly swapping things out.
The problem is now, as I put components on the bike that I like more and more (not necessarily expensive parts, as I get everything used), my bike becomes more and more “valuable”, in that it becomes harder to replace. I like my tires, my thumbies, my handlebars, my grips, my fenders, etc. I like my bike much more now than when I bought it (also used), and I become more concerned about theft as it gets older!
This is another good reason to never clean your bike. A dirty bike with scratches and nicks will never look as wonderful to a potential thief as those gleaming bikes in the photos above!
@Pav
What Will said… :-)
@Lovely Bicycle!
Yeah, the Nitto cages are kinda’ extravagant, but they sure are lovely.
On the photo with the brass bell, is that the SRAM ibrake lever (or part of it)?
How do you like it? Kind of odd, that this lever has a completely different shape from the other modern brake levers (it is longer and thinner).
Alan,
Those Nitto and Brooks pics gave me goose bumps!
Beautiful pictures :)
@Ralph
The SRAM lever is unique. I actually quite like the feel – they provide excellent leverage and seem to be a great match for the Avid mechanical discs.
Alan
@Jeff & Ben
Thank you!
Good gravy , you practically make love to your bike and you don’t name them ?
Post Traumatic Component Syndrome, (PTCS)
I still kind of ashamed to admit I built an entire bike around Paul Components.
I’m starting to come to grips with what I have done, but it’s a long and hard road to recovery. On the other hand, I have a great bike to ride that gives me solace and strength while working my therapy program. Just thought I’d share.
(are those Pauls Thumbies on your Surley?)
@MohjhoRyder
Yup, that’s a Thumbie (singular). Running a 1×9…
http://www.ecovelo.info/2010/08/15/a-1×9-conversion/
While God may be in the details , the sum is greater then the parts . LOL shaking my head . Or as Lance would say ” It’s not about the bike ” .
man.. I should stop reading ur blog.. I am poisoned :) awesome photos! I just bought the same bell.. nice ring! Now I am drooling at the nitto bottle cage and wooden fenders.. what is the brand? And where u can find them?
Keep it coming Alan!
Definitely SFW. Fetish, indeed…
Fantastic as always Alan – but is that a little road grime I see on your chainring teeth?
“Gasp!”