So, loyal readers may recall that I have several bikes already. And my most recent project undertaken, Ye Blacke Death, was begun predicated on a number of rationales, including: it should be inexpensive, it shouldn’t be a fix-e project redo, and it should be old timey. That all said, during the weeks leading up to my most recent move, I had begun performing experiments on Fix-e, which was actually my first project, thanks to Lung’s tutelage. However, one thing was certain: that small frame wasn’t getting any notsmaller. Adding the drops only worsened the issue: the frame is too small for this wrongrobot. Using those drops meant hunting for a very long stem (such as Ntto’s long boys at $140 or so) and even then, it raises the bars, but brings them closer in the process, somewhat hampering the process. So, I began scheming to build a new bike from the ashes of Fix-e, which might, in the Team Lope tradition, be retired for awhile. Keep in mind, at the time I started down this mental road, I was still imagining that there was a good chance most of my bikes were going into storage, meaning any bike that wasn’t a good fit was probably hibernating. Now, I have a bikeBasement(tm) the size of Bent Ankle, West Texas, and prolly could have left Fix-e as is for occasional nostalgia rides. But I wasn’t thinking that way at the time. I was thinking economy, fitment, and recycling. So, like I have done in the past, I picked one or two details from Fix-e, and carried them into a new concept bike.

That bike is Wrong Ghostal*, the somewhat literal spirit of the now-deceased Fix-e. It’s wrong, because it’s mine, and it’s also wrong, because riding a ghost bike seems to inherently bring those tickets orbiting my skull that much closer to being punched, and that means lights out. But anyway, I decided to do it. My man Lung has already been building a Dream in Racing Cream, which led me to postpone that look yet again in favor of matte black on Ye Blacke Death, and that ALSO meant that the rattlecan finish on Fix-e would be redundant anyway. Further causing the retirement of ole fix-e was my decision to sell her sweet, sweet deeps to Lung for his projects, since thy were still nearly new, and had plenty of awesome therein. So what the hell, I says, as long as I’m building the ghost of fix-e, and fix-e was all about experimentation, why not build a little out of my comfort zone rather than another conversion frame?

This is how I entered onto the path of modern track frames. Lung has built up a sweet ride off of a Skidaddle, I mean Scattante, SRS frame, and I was really into it when he was working on it, tripping on these details track folks take for granted that conversion guys like me have to improvise, such as horizontal track fork ends instead of dropouts, and modern headsets, and contemporary geometries (sch as the SRS’ slightly sloping top tube). I thought to myself at that time, my next build from scratch will be a track frame proper, and so here we are. I looked at all sorts of options over the next few weeks, frequently in the late night hour on baby duty. My choices were endless and conflicting: a serious trixie frame, despite not being into tricks? A mean geometry to accentuate the difference from my other bikes? A custom paint job on an otherwise cool, but not white, frame? And so on. Finally, I reconciled my interest in a new frame with my competing interest to keep things on budget. And the budget is WEAK! And most cool track frames are much more expensive than they deserve being, because they are popular. Ultimately, while I was hovering on an older model Leader frame, I decided I didn’t want THAT new a geometry and section. I still like a classic frame. I just wanted something a little different than the norm. And I LOVE lugs and quill stems, but those are the gems of conversions. Time to see what I could do with modern gear.

I chose the Origin8 Del Pasado. I was most drawn to the unusual wheelstays (topstays? I calle them wheelstays. But I’m known to be wrong) that start several inches below the seat clamp. Also, integrated seat clamp. Also, clean frame. Also, GREAT deal.

So I thought about it throughout my move, and pulled the trigger once I got to the new digs.

Pros: the above mentioned wheelstays, clean lines, integrated seat clamp, price, etc
Cons: for one, the paint job ain’t the BEST ot of the gate. Better than you’d expect at this price point, certainly on par with Lung’s similarly budget-minded SRS. But you can see the points where it’s slightly off. For another, i’m not sure I’m in love with the form just yet it’s a straight fork, and I do so love my curving chrome dipped forks. But that is conversion bike territory as well. Lastly, to my surprise and horror, I think the decals are UNDER the clear coat. I’m looking into how to debadge without repainting. But we’ll see. Problems to solve.

So far so good! And nothing beats having two projects ongoing, an oldie and a new tech one. Multiple projects are a joy Lung is also quite familiar with.

*Space Ghost fans know what’s up!

Be Sociable, Share!

• 

Follow this topic in the R3 Forum here!

Related posts:

1. Team Lope Bike Bio: Fix-e
2. Team Lope Bike Bio [Retired]: gangstaLean(tm)
3. Team Lope Bike Bio: Schwixie(tm)