Blue Steel Roads

Beth’s bike (her very early birthday present from her brother and me) was completed and presented to her last week. We decided to keep the fork tube uncut until we were sure what height the bars would end up being and true to my expectations she thinks she may want different bars. As an after though though she said the drops weren’t as bad as she expected. Nevertheless, I ordered Nashbar’s trekking/butterfly bar and a set of Paul Thumbies (which I got yesterday). The Thumbies will allow her bar end shifters to mount onto the handlebars near the upright position where she wants them.

Currently I’m trying to figure out if reverse (time trial) brake levers would be better than mountain bike levers, which I can get from my LBS. Beth likes the idea of the multiple positions the trekking bars offers as she isn’t sure she needs an aggressive posture very often (if ever). So far she really likes the bike and comments on how smooth it rides.

As I suspected though, she now says she might have been able to get away with the 52cm frame. Fortunately she’s happy with the 46. I actually like riding it around the yard myself.

Here are a few of ours together: