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Posted: 8/27/2023 8:46:05 PM EDT
There's a bike shop about 60 miles away that is totally in line with my interests, carrying Surly, Salsa and Crust for bikes as well as Rene Hearse tires. Very big into "all-around" bikes and gravel riding in particular.
A few years ago, I was interested in a Jones and upon calling to see if this shop stocked complete bikes (they didn't), one of the employees told me he had a Jones and if I wanted to come by the shop to ride it, he would run home and get, which I did. Very cool bike. Yesterday, I was in there and they had a Surly Bridge Club I could ride (been looking for years, but no one ever has them in stock). Took that for a ride, then rode a Salsa Fargo....both very nice bikes. Sitting up against the front windows, dirty and obviously a personal bike, was a Stooge titanium bike that looked a lot like the very first modern mountain bike, Breezer #1. Joe Breeze made 10 bikes for that first production run, but only his had a truss fork. The others had straight unicrown forks. Breezer #1 (Currently in the Smithsonian) Attached File I mentioned how cool the bike was to the girl who was helping me and later on I mentioned having ridden one of the employee's Jones bikes several years ago. She replied that not only is he still at the shop, but the Stooge is his! He promptly came over and offered to let me ride it. Charley Kelly was one of the original creators of what is now mountain biking and Joe Breeze made his Breezer series of bikes at Charley's request, so Charley has Breezer #2. Apparently, Charley stayed with the owner of Stooge Cycles and they agreed to do a limited run of 10 bikes, inspired by the first ten Breezers. The offer was made to the public and only one guy bought one, the guy who works at the bike shop I visit. Of course, the owner of Stooge built one for himself, so there are a grand total of two of these framesets in existence, and I got to ride one of them!! Stooge C.K. Flyer Attached File The thing was a blast to ride, but probably not for everyone, just die hard bike nerds. I once had a 1984 Takara Highlander, which was very representative of those first mountain bikes and this thing rode like a much nicer version of that bike. This was also the first titanium bike I've ridden. Previously, titanium had no interest to me, but after riding this bike and discovering that as pictured, with huge 27.5+ tires, the bike weighs in at 25 lbs, I now want a titanium bike!!! My old Takara Highlander Attached File |
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Pour over coffee is best coffee.
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[#1]
That is cool stuff. That Stooge with the skin wall plus tires is sweet! I'd be nerding out on it too if I got to ride it! Love those old bikes.
I went on a vintage kick for a while, sold almost all of them off, just don't have the space to "collect" bikes, and somewhere along the way I got too into "performance" oriented riding/bikes. Still have an old 87 Cannondale, and a Worksman I cobbled into a klunker, (still a work in progress) Attached File Attached File |
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[#2]
I still have my 93 Schwinn Moab. Mostly original. Replaced the grips, saddle, tires, and brake shoes. Otherwise, still original parts. Bought it new from the bicycle rack in Spotswood, NJ.
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Award: 24/365 Most likely to be an appendix.
"Arfcom makes me happy. Arfcom is like a giant, heavily armed, dysfunctional family that smells like cheetos and gun oil." - Undefined |
[#3]
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Award: 24/365 Most likely to be an appendix.
"Arfcom makes me happy. Arfcom is like a giant, heavily armed, dysfunctional family that smells like cheetos and gun oil." - Undefined |
[#4]
I rode a titanium -framed road bike some years back
It was sooooo smooth. |
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[#5]
Cool story and neat bike, thanks for sharing OP.
Found an article with more photos and info: https://theradavist.com/stooge-cycles-ck-flyer-mtb-review/ |
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[Last Edit: corwin1968]
[#6]
Originally Posted By wookie1562: Cool story and neat bike, thanks for sharing OP. Found an article with more photos and info: https://theradavist.com/stooge-cycles-ck-flyer-mtb-review/ View Quote That LBS visit was a revelation for me. I've been riding with various degrees of enthusiasm since 1995. In 2011, I started a thread here that, like so many other threads here, sent me down the rabbit hole of bikes, in and of themselves. I became a total bike nerd and actually riding one became a secondary interest. I spent years and hours designing custom frames I could commission as well as browsing the forums, websites, etc.. I even bought a Rivendell frameset, which if it was still made, would cost $1750. I spec'd it with pretty decent components and enjoy riding it. At the LBS, I first rode a Surly Bridge Club, which was really nice. I then rode a Salsa Fargo which as far as components go, was a much nicer bike. I then rode the Stooge, which is the pet project of a bike shop mechanic who has spared no expense on his bikes. I now realize the research and investment should be in good components. I've known for years that I want a higher engagement hub. I can't stand the slack in the cranks when I start pedaling after coasting. And the XTR drivetrain? Holy Mother of God. That was precision shifting like I've never experienced. Being owned by a bike mechanic/nerd, I'm sure it was set up to perfection. Now, I can't decide whether to sell my Rivendell (the owner of the Stooge said he would be interested in it) and get a Bridge Club, sell Riv and invest in better components for the old Karate Monkey frameset, or keep the Riv and build up the Karate Monkey as more of a neighborhood bike. But then do I put the decent components on the Karate Monkey or the Riv, with the new, better components I plan to buy going on the other? First world problems. |
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Pour over coffee is best coffee.
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[#8]
If you guys are in to the older stuff. I can't recommended Bicycle Heaven in Pittsburgh, PA enough. Stopped by on a trip and it blew my mind.
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[Last Edit: AgeOne]
[#9]
Originally Posted By corwin1968: There's a bike shop about 60 miles away that is totally in line with my interests, carrying Surly, Salsa and Crust for bikes as well as Rene Hearse tires. Very big into "all-around" bikes and gravel riding in particular. A few years ago, I was interested in a Jones and upon calling to see if this shop stocked complete bikes (they didn't), one of the employees told me he had a Jones and if I wanted to come by the shop to ride it, he would run home and get, which I did. Very cool bike. Yesterday, I was in there and they had a Surly Bridge Club I could ride (been looking for years, but no one ever has them in stock). Took that for a ride, then rode a Salsa Fargo....both very nice bikes. Sitting up against the front windows, dirty and obviously a personal bike, was a Stooge titanium bike that looked a lot like the very first modern mountain bike, Breezer #1. Joe Breeze made 10 bikes for that first production run, but only his had a truss fork. The others had straight unicrown forks. Breezer #1 (Currently in the Smithsonian) https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/42575/NMAH-DOR2012-0504-0941_jpg-2934447.JPG View Quote If they made that thing in fatbike (4+) with a 197 rear I know a ton of people who would buy them. they all have why (now revel) big irons. Ti bikes are huge in the fatbike world. |
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[#10]
I still have my 1980 Kuwahara KZ-1 BMX. Rode it recently, still fun!
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[#11]
Originally Posted By Toothpicksandkatchup: If you guys are in to the older stuff. I can't recommended Bicycle Heaven in Pittsburgh, PA enough. Stopped by on a trip and it blew my mind. View Quote Just started ridding the roads and gap this year. Rode past twice. Gunna have to check it out. |
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