Attention: re Blossom

[sandra]

Blossom is at the LBS getting all fixed up. Albatross bars, Nitto stem, brake levers, cables and housing. Everything but tires. I wanted the old gumwall tires and they only had them in 26 X 1 1/8. I want 26 X 1 1/4

I pick her up at 4 today and I'm as excited as I was when I first got her.

Tire recommendations anyone? I want tan gumwall, not skin wall.

[sandra]

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb12/Sandradav/IMG_0369.jpg

[sandra]

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb12/Sandradav/IMG_0367.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb12/Sandradav/IMG_0368.jpg

[sandra]

OLD Blossom
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb12/Sandradav/f739_12-1.jpg

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Holy COW, what a transformation!!!!!!!! :eek: :eek: :eek:

You have yourself one gorgeous bike there, girl. :p :p :p


Tires?- I myself use these:
http://harriscyclery.net/itemdetails.cfm?catalogId=39&id=1731
The Pasela Panaracer with TG (tourguard flat-protection inner belt)- I get the 700x28 size. They have gotten excellent reviews for both speed and puncture resisitance. I'm on my 2nd set now and I like them very well. The 28c width is excellent for paved roads AND it can ride rough gravel too. Wider is really overkill and thinner starts taking a chance on flat tires if you ride nasty surfaces or lots of potholes. Note they state 105psi inflation- that's "maximum" and I always keep them at about 95 for a nicer ride....95 is plenty hard for those tires. Remember the fatter the tire the lower the air pressure it can take.

Another nice puncture resistant tire to consider would be the Rivendell Ruffy Tuffy, but they are substancially more expensive than the Panaracers and I don't think they are actually any better. My DH likes them.
Both tires have tan sidewalls.
On our bike page, the photos of my bike from 2006 show Pasela Panaracers of 700x38- a real wide tire that I found to be perfectly fine but just much wider and fatter than I needed. In the 2007 pix, you see my bike with the same tires but in 700x28 size- a perfect all around size for varied terrain. You can see the big difference in width in the two front wheel head-on shots from 2006 and 2007.
The pix of my DH's bikes show his Ruffy Tuffy's I believe. They are listed as 700x27c but are closer to 28 in actual width.

[Tri Girl]

Wow! :eek: She looks a million times better than she did before!!! I LOVE the new saddle, bars, and grips. Man- I might come steal her from you when you're not looking. ;)

[uforgot]

Hey, listen to Lisa. She recommended those tires to me and they were terrific on my Bianchi! Gumwall too, just like you want.

Blossom sure looks purdy. :D

[uforgot]

Wow! :eek: She looks a million times better than she did before!!! I LOVE the new saddle, bars, and grips. Man- I might come steal her from you when you're not looking. ;)

Bring a truck. Pretty soon you will have 10-15 mixtes to choose from!

[sandra]

Lisa, I love those tires, and would get them, but will a 700 X 28 fit when my bike uses a 26 X 1 1/4? I find lots of 700 tires but not as much selection in a 26.

[sandra]

Bring a truck. Pretty soon you will have 10-15 mixtes to choose from!

You hush up girl. Not quite that many. :o

[uforgot]

Sandra: Are you sure it isn't 27 X 1 1/4? The Panaracers come in that size. Try Wallingford, ebay or Amazon. I think I got mine at Amazon.

[sandra]

DUH! Of course they are 27 X 1/14. I don't know what I was thinking. Maybe about a seatpost that is 26.2.

[KnottedYet]

Beautiful! Beautiful!! Beautiful!!!!

[smilingcat]

Wow Sandra,

Blossom looks beautiful. Much much better with the Albatross bar instead of the flat bar. And the Brooks saddle looks much more appropriate.

The gumwall tire and the grip on the bar really finish the look.

Congratulation and many happy miles.

Smilingcat

[Blueberry]

What a beauty!! And I love the name by the way!

If you haven't already, you'll raise the value of all mixte's on the market!

CA

[elk]

WOWEE!!! You had a vision!!! What are you doin talkin trash about being jealous of my Jamis...that red bike is a RED BIKE!!!!! You did great!!

[OakLeaf]

Sweet.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Sandra, I thought you might like this picture, I remember your plans to go buy a baguette on your Lotus Blossom:
http://bp3.blogger.com/_C1XrRVl3W8k/RzhmBiCHnBI/AAAAAAAADtk/aJ0eRXwBGXc/s1600-h/model+M.JPG
;) :cool:

[sarahkonamojo]

Nice job!
It looks like nice riding weather, too.
You have a mixte fetish?

sarah

[sandra]

That's neat Lisa! I have the Nantucket wicker basket from Young's Bike shop for the front of Blossom and I really like it. I forgot to put it on for the picture. I was all excited about the new bars and stem.

:o Yes, I'm embarrassed to admit, I have a mixte fetish.:cool: I hope I'm getting over it. We both love them at our house, hubby too!

[sandra]

That bike reminds me Lisa, I'd love to put fenders on one of my bikes, just because I love how they look. I must confess that I am a wimp and do not ride in the rain though, so it would add weight for only the purpose of looking good.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I have mixt feelings about it. ;)
I never did put fenders on my own bike despite having planned to originally, simply because I find I rarely ride in the rain and I don't commute to work. I got over the tempting looks aspect of it and didn't really want to add weight for no compelling reason.

When I pick up fresh bread from the bakery on my bike, I get them to slice it for me and put it in a bag. Then I whip out my decidedly unromantic bungee cord and strap it to the top of my saddlebag for the ride home up the hill. Not very "french" I'm afraid. :rolleyes:

[elk]

SKS fenders...the fenders of choice...are plastic. they weigh very little.

if i didn't put fenders on my bike(s) I would'nt be able to ride from Nov-June..:eek: