I hope the environment appreciates how much a pain building this bike was...

[7rider]

Ouch.
You're lucky you didn't crash. Parallel grates can be beyond hazardous to a cyclist.
I totalled a rim on the rear wheel of my old Seven on a parallel grate. It pinched the rim in on the tube (and popped two before I realized it! ). I had to replace the rim and get new spokes (I think). A big P.I.A., but fortunately, I didn't crash.
STAY AWAY from those danged things. Take the lane if you must.
Glad you are unhurt.

[Cataboo]

Ah well... now I know to look out for those things. I very sensibly swerved to avoid the one that was about 100 feet after the first.

In retrospect I'm surprised I managed to bike over it at all... And I'm glad it was on the surly 'cause I woulda cried if I did it on my other bikes, I'd expect they'd not have done as well.

I'm going to call the base provost and find out who to complain to about those 2 grates... Because that is pretty retarded and if that's their fitness circuit they should really make it non-hazardous to cyclists.

the spokes looked fine - the rim's kinda bowed out on either side probably in an area that's less than a finger across.. I'm hoping that if I cut a piece of wood to fit in the rim, and then put a flat piece of wood or aluminum across either side of it, I can put a clamp across it and bend them inwards & flat.

I'm not thrilled at the idea of buying another new rim for it now, but I probably will eventually end up doing that. either way, it sounds like I got off lighter than you did with your seven - I hope you weren't hurt.

[Cataboo]

There were 2 areas on the rim where the wheel was dented in some and the rim was bent out on either side. We managed to flatten out the rim, the wheel's true... it's not quite round, but I'll ride it for a while to see how it does.

I don't see anyone selling the rim I have - it's a 622x19 rim that's pretty burly, seems to be a european company. I emailed the place on ebay that I bought the wheel from on ebay to see if they had any extra rims.

The bf thought I'd've snapped any other rim in half.

[Cataboo]

At the beach this weekend, I found sunglasses to go with my surly. I'm set now.

[Biciclista]

i missed this whole thread! your bike looks nice... you like it enough now?

[Cataboo]

i missed this whole thread! your bike looks nice... you like it enough now?

I do. It hasn't thrown me off in a while. It's got soma sparrow handlebars on it now. I love the bike, I just wish the top tube was about 20 cms longer.

[Zen]

At the beach this weekend, I found sunglasses to go with my surly.

They are perfect. It's a sign, a portent, an omen. You can never get rid of the Flaming Surly.

[Cataboo]

They are perfect. It's a sign, a portent, an omen. You can never get rid of the Flaming Surly.

I told you that about your mariposa, then your fickle heart chose Miss Plum.

Ocassionally, I think about selling the surly - but it's a bit too fun still. I may have to get a custom black frame to replace the surly frame someday With the right size top tube.

But I'll update the thread with the surly as it is now and I'll have to get pics of me riding the bike with the sunglasses.