Frame Lust

[Catrin]

I forgot to mention an interesting conversation with my fitter today regarding my Gunnar. It is based on a cyclocross frame, and he told me that I can do light mountain biking with it! He said it would be perfect for the purpose and allow me a chance to try it out if I don't want/can't get a mountain bike for a time. We aren't talking rock gardens or drops or anything like that, but it can handle very beginner trails, limestone, and easy dirt.

For some reason I didn't consider this...

[emily_in_nc]

I forgot to mention an interesting conversation with my fitter today regarding my Gunnar. It is based on a cyclocross frame, and he told me that I can do light mountain biking with it! He said it would be perfect for the purpose and allow me a chance to try it out if I don't want/can't get a mountain bike for a time. We aren't talking rock gardens or drops or anything like that, but it can handle very beginner trails, limestone, and easy dirt.

For some reason I didn't consider this...

Sure! I see a lot of guys (never women, for some reason) riding cross bikes on the fire roads and non-technical unpaved trails at a nearby park I used to mountain bike at all the time. Obviously some tires would be more up to that kind of riding than others, but it's certainly possible.

[Catrin]

My fitter said today that the custom design makes my bike, basically, a "Swiss Army Knife" of bikes

Considering I won't be able to actually GET a new hard tail for some time if the mountain bike clinic goes well, it is nice to know that it can handle easy, non-technical stuff if I want to pursue it after the clinic. It is good information to have - and the wheels ARE mountain bike wheels...

[Catrin]

Arrrrrrrrg.... LBS discovered a snafu with the fork for my Gunnar yesterday Apparently Waterford/Gunner staff, when they built the fork, messed up and put the braze-on for the front brake in the location for 700c wheels, not 26 inch. So the fork has to return to the factory and they will either fix it or send a new one.

I also just paid it off today, so I COULD have brought it home...but this is obviously something that can't be ignored. It shouldn't take too long, but it will SEEM longer since I've paid it off

[indysteel]

Argh! The anticipation must be killing you! Heck, it's killing me! I hope they get the fork fixed quickly!

[emily_in_nc]

Yes, it almost sounds like the home-building process, which I've been through three times before in my adult life and am now going through a 4th time! Everything takes longer than you expect and were told, and mistakes crop up all the time. However, it is all worth it in the end...most of the time.

Wishing you the patience of a saint!

[Catrin]

I heard from my fitter (who also also the general manager of the LBS), he thinks that it will, hopefully, be ready by my original April 15 date... Well, life happens, and I kind of do need front brakes Going to be a loooong two weeks They are currently waiting for the shipping voucher from Waterford so they can return the fork.

I have no complaints about this entire process, it just takes time. There are so many places where problems can develop that I am thankful it wasn't something larger - though the final test will come when I finally get to RIDE her